Abidjan, Some 16 people died in the fire of a nightclub in an upscale neighborhood of Yaoundé, the Cameroonian capital, on the night of Saturday January 22 to Sunday January 23, 2022, announced the Ministry of the Communication in a press release.

The fire occurred in the middle of the night in the main hall of Liv’s Night Club, located in the Bastos district, which is home to luxury houses, embassies and residences of diplomats.

“An accidental fire broke out and the initial report shows 16 dead and eight seriously injured. The drama, which was caused by explosions from the fireworks usually used in these places, first consumed the ceiling of the building, subsequently resulting in two high-amplitude explosions, causing panic and jostling. “, continues the press release.

“When we arrived, there was panic, there was a strong fire with a lot of smoke,” said on condition of anonymity, a Yaoundé fire official.

“It went very quickly, it was a little over 2 a.m. and the majority of customers arrive around 3 a.m., it happened in the room,” assured a security guard present at the time of the tragedy.

A hundred people gathered at the end of the morning at the morgue of the military hospital of Ekounou, where the bodies were taken, in order to identify them.

In Douala, the economic capital in the south, over the past six years, at least five nightclubs have been the scene of accidental fires which have partially or totally destroyed the establishment.

A nightclub was also the scene two years ago of a deadly stampede following a fight.

This tragedy comes as the country hosts the African Cup of Nations (CAN), the queen competition of African football.

Source: Agence Ivoirienne de Presse