Explosion at Cameroon’s Metafrique Steel plant kills four, injures 16

An explosion at the Metafrique Steel plant in Douala, Cameroon, on Monday morning resulted in at least four deaths and sixteen serious injuries.

The blast occurred around 7am at the metal processing company located in the Bassa industrial zone. The fire rapidly spread throughout the factory.

Emergency responders found four bodies at the scene, and the injured workers were taken to Douala General Hospital, many suffering from severe burns.

Samuel Dieudonné Ivaha Diboua, Governor of the Littoral Region, visited the site and hospital, condemning the company’s failure to adhere to safety measures imposed after a previous fire in May.

An official investigation has been launched to determine the cause of the explosion, with the governor considering the possibility of shutting down the factory.

The incident has reignited concerns about worker safety in Cameroon’s industrial facilities.