A devastating fire tore through an illicit petrol depot located in the border town of Seme Krake, tragically claiming the lives of at least 33 individuals, local authorities have reported.
Seme Krake, nestled in the southeastern department of Oueme within Benin, bore witness to this heart-wrenching incident.
Dallys Ahouangbegnon, the head of the local fire brigade, provided chilling details of the fire’s origin, revealing that it initially sparked near the town’s pineapple market before swiftly spreading and engulfing nearby residences and parked vehicles.
Quick-thinking efforts resulted in the urgent evacuation of three injured individuals for medical treatment. Eyewitnesses, fortunate enough to escape to Banouto from the scene, described the fire’s impact as catastrophic, resulting in an overwhelming loss of both lives and property.
The valiant firefighters who responded to the emergency faced a daunting task in quelling the furious inferno.
Despite the recent removal of fuel subsidies by the federal government, the illegal trade of smuggled petrol from Nigeria continues to thrive.
This government action led to a significant surge in fuel prices, driving the black-market demand. Large volumes of petrol, sold openly on the streets of Benin’s towns and neighborhoods, often originate from clandestine stations along the porous Benin-Nigeria border.
This lucrative trade, while highly profitable, carries substantial risks due to the perilous conditions in which the product is stored. Consequently, incidents like this tragic fire
