23 dead and 150 wounded after gas explosion in Sudan
09 January 2020
23 people died and around 150 were injured after an explosion in Khartoum, Sudan on December 3. The blast occurred while a gas tanker lorry was transferring its load to an underground storage facility at the Sila ceramics factory.
Representative image: Shutterstock
The factory was destroyed, and several surrounding buildings were impacted by the explosion. A statement by government ministers said an absence of necessary safety measures at the factory was a cause behind the tanker blast. The statement added that the improper and unnecessary storage of inflammable materials at the factory also "contributed to the continuation and expansion of the fire and the destruction of the plant completely”.
The injured were rushed to five nearby hospitals which meant the exact amount of injuries has yet to be confirmed. The government has launched an investigation to determine the exact cause of the explosion and determine those responsible for a lack of safety measures.