China News Service, March 8 reported that Equatorial Guinea's President Obiang said that a series of explosions occurred in a military camp in the country on the 7th, resulting in at least 20 deaths and more than 600 injuries.
He said that the "negligence" in the barracks caused the accident.
Obiang said that the explosion occurred at 4 pm local time on the 7th in a military camp in the economic capital of Bata.
According to images broadcast by the country’s national television channel TVGE, the explosion destroyed the military camp. Thick black smoke rose from the camp and the surrounding area was also severely damaged. People screamed and wept on the streets full of smoke and rubble.
Obiang said that "the impact of the explosion caused almost all the houses and buildings in Bata to be damaged."
He also stated that the explosion was caused by "the accident caused by the negligence of the unit responsible for storing explosives, explosives and ammunition."
The country’s Ministry of National Defense issued a statement later in the day saying that the fire in the barracks’ weapons depot caused an ammunition explosion, which has killed 20 people.
The Ministry of Defense also stated that it will fully investigate the cause of the explosion.
The Ministry of Health of the country called on blood donors and volunteer medical staff to go to local medical facilities.
In addition, health workers are treating the injured at the scene of the accident and in medical institutions, but worry that there are still missing under the rubble.