A massive explosion occurred on Tuesday evening near Chad’s capital city of N’Djamena, resulting in the tragic loss of at least nine lives and leaving 46 individuals injured, as confirmed by a statement from the country’s foreign minister.
Video footage, which has been authenticated and geolocated to the international airport in N’Djamena, captures the harrowing scene of a massive fireball and sparks illuminating the night sky.
Satellite imagery provided by Maxar Technologies reveals that a total of 17 structures at the ammunition depot were obliterated by the explosion.
The satellite image further indicates that the destroyed structures were dispersed across the area, forming two distinct groups situated at opposite ends of the complex. The possibility of multiple explosions leading to the destruction of all structures remains uncertain, as does the exact cause of the explosion at this juncture.
Residents in the vicinity recounted the terrifying experience, with one individual, Moustapha Adoum Mahamat, describing how their house shook as if under gunfire. He recounted witnessing a massive fire at the military camp, accompanied by billowing smoke and objects exploding into the air, including artillery flying overhead.
Despite the proximity of the explosion to Chad’s main international airport, authorities have confirmed that the airport itself remained unaffected by the incident.
Chad’s president, Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno, has pledged to launch a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the fire at the ammunition depot, in a bid to ascertain the cause of the tragic event.
