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According to the dpa news agency, at least 15 people were killed and hundreds injured in strong explosions in West African Equatorial Guinea.
The AP news agency reported at least 20 dead and 600 wounded.
The accident occurred in the afternoon in a military barracks in the city of Bata, the authorities said.
The reason for the explosions was "negligence and inattention," said President Teodoro Obiang in a communiqué circulated by the media late in the evening.
Dynamite and explosives depots had caught fire, "when neighbors lit fire in nearby farms" and the flames had spread to the barracks.
Obiang said the pressure waves had "caused damage to almost all buildings and houses in the city of Bata."
He ordered the start of investigations in order to bring those responsible to account.
The president called on the people of Equatorial Guinea to remain calm.
There are a lot of fakenews in circulation.
Soldiers and civilians among the victims
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According to the president, there were at least 15 dead and more than 500 injured in the accident.
Health officials had previously reported at least 17 fatalities.
According to media reports, both soldiers and civilians were among the victims.
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Pictures and videos posted on Twitter showed a high column of smoke and people fleeing.
The digital magazine "Real Equatorial Guinea" reported "severe destruction" and "panic".
The pressure waves from the explosions were also felt in many remote buildings.
According to the medium "Ahoraeg.com" there were three successive explosions.
Only sparse information circulating
The Spanish embassy in the capital Malabo called on the Spaniards living in Bata to stay at home if possible.
There is currently only sparse information from the city, since the Internet has apparently partly failed there.
With almost 200,000 inhabitants, Bata is the largest city in the African country and is considered the economic center of the former Spanish colony.
Equatorial Guinea has been independent since 1968.
Obiang (78) has been ruling the country with a hard hand since 1979.
In order to come to power, the then commander of the National Guard overthrew and executed his ruling uncle Macías Nguema.