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CONAKRY: The death toll from an explosion at a fuel depot in Guinea’s capital, Conakry, has risen to 23 people, and the number of injured has increased to 241, Sputnik quoted an Africaguinee news portal report yesterday, citing a government spokesman.

The blast occurred on Sunday night in the Kaloum district, the business and administrative centre of Conakry, where the presidential palace, many ministries, embassies, and banks are located. The explosion caused significant material damage to the warehouse and neighbouring houses.

Hundreds of people evacuated from the incident area on their own. Access to the area was allowed only to employees of medical services and security forces.

Of the total number of victims, 167 have already returned home, and 74 remain at hospitals, the report said.

The report cited Guinea’s minister of posts, telecommunications and digital economy Ousmane Gaoual Diallo as saying that he has received numerous reports of a large number of missing people, adding that an investigation was underway to clarify the situation.

Media reported on Monday that 13 people had died in the explosion and another 178 had been injured.