Ouahigouya – A significant explosion caused by a gas cylinder resulted in considerable material damage in Ouahigouya, as a general merchandise store and a coffee kiosk were completely destroyed during the night from Thursday to Friday.

According to Burkina Information Agency, the incident occurred in the early hours of December 15, 2023, around 1 a.m. The explosion, originating from a 12kg gas cylinder, happened near Banfora Avenue, a few meters from the former “Bandana” dancing bar in Ouahigouya. The force of the blast propelled the flaming cylinder into a nearby store across the street, causing a fire.

The fire was successfully contained thanks to the combined efforts of the local community and firefighters. While there were no human casualties reported, the owners of the shop and the kiosk were left devastated, having lost everything in the incident.

It is noteworthy that the explosion occurred in a highly sensitive area, less than 30 meters from both a gas station and a pharmacy, raising concerns about safety measures in densely populated and commercially active zones.