Law enforcement officials and officers stand outdoors the Livs Evening Membership in Yaounde, Cameroon, Sunday, Jan. 23, 2022.
By Edwin Kindzeka Moki | Related Press
YAOUNDE — A hearth erupted at a preferred nightclub within the Cameroon capital of Yaounde, setting off explosions that killed no less than 17 folks and significantly injured seven others, authorities officers mentioned Sunday.
The tragedy comes because the central African nation hosts hundreds of soccer gamers, followers and officers from throughout the continent for the month-long African Cup of Nations soccer event.
It was not instantly clear what had sparked the hearth at Liv’s Nightclub Yaouba within the capital’s Bastos neighborhood. Staff there initially mentioned it was attributable to a brief circuit. Nonetheless, a authorities assertion later Sunday recommended that fireworks had ignited the constructing’s roof, after which the hearth unfold to areas the place cooking fuel was saved.
“The tragedy, which was attributable to the explosions from fireworks often utilized in these locations, first consumed the ceiling of the constructing after which triggered two sturdy explosions,” authorities spokesman Rene Emmanuel Sadi mentioned.
The federal government spokesman mentioned authorities have been nonetheless making an attempt to find out the names and nationalities of the lifeless and wounded. Eight folks have been taken to a Yaounde hospital, one among whom later died. The others remained in intensive care late Sunday.
In a press release, Cameroonian President Paul Biya known as for calm and guaranteed gamers and followers of their security. His authorities later requested folks to be stay vigilant “with a view to keep away from the prevalence of this type of catastrophe, particularly when our nation is internet hosting a large-scale sporting occasion.”
The African Cup options groups from 24 nations and started on Jan. 9. It's the continent’s largest soccer event and Cameroon is internet hosting for the primary time in 50 years. It was initially scheduled for 2021 however then was postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The Cameroon crew will play a spherical of 16 knockout recreation in opposition to Comoros in Yaounde on Monday.
Yaounde is the principle host metropolis and can stage one other six video games, together with the ultimate on Feb. 6.