2023 Mahé explosion
A building damaged due to the explosion
Date7 December 2023 (2023-12-07)
Time02:00 SCT (UTC+04:00)
LocationMahé, Seychelles
Coordinates04°39′27″S 55°29′07″E / 4.65750°S 55.48528°E / -4.65750; 55.48528
Non-fatal injuries178
A building destroyed due to the explosion

An explosion occurred on 7 December 2023 at an explosives depot on the island of Mahé in the Seychelles, south of the capital Victoria.[1] The blast damaged numerous structures. The explosion took place during heavy flooding in Seychelles that killed three people; a state of emergency was declared following both events.[2][1]

Background

Prior to the explosion, heavy rainfall in Seychelles caused extensive flooding that killed at least three people.[1]

Explosion

According to a statement issued by the president's office, the explosion occurred at a "CCCL explosives store" and caused "massive damage to the Providence Industrial area and the surrounding areas,", located 7 kilometers southeast of the capital Victoria,[3] with officials calling the area a "war zone".[4]

The explosion was reported to have originated from four containers of explosives and had left a 13-meter deep crater. It also caused damage to Seychelles International Airport, four kilometers away, although the airport remained operational along with inter-island ferries. At least 178 people were injured,[5] mostly suffering light injuries. Five people were hospitalized, with one of them in intensive care.[2]

Response

President Wavel Ramkalawan ordered non-essential workers to remain at home, while schools were closed and hospitals remained open only for emergency cases.[2] 202 residents in the worst-affected district of Cascade were evacuated due to serious damage to homes.[5] A state of emergency was declared on 7 December following the explosion and floods,[2][1] but was lifted within the day.[6]

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to 2023 Mahé explosion.
  1. 1 2 3 4 "Seychelles declares state of emergency after flood and explosion". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 7 December 2023.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Seychelles declares state of emergency after huge explosion". BBC. 7 December 2023. Retrieved 7 December 2023.
  3. ↑ Chetty, Emilie (7 December 2023). "Seychelles declares an emergency after deadly flooding and a blast at an explosives depot". Associated Press. Retrieved 24 December 2023.
  4. ↑ Gretener, Jessie; Princewill, Nimi (7 December 2023). "Seychelles President issues state of emergency following explosion at explosives store". CNN. Archived from the original on 7 December 2023. Retrieved 7 December 2023.
  5. 1 2 "Seychelles Starts Clean-up After Massive Blast, Floods". Barron's. 8 December 2023. Retrieved 24 December 2023.
  6. ↑ "Dozens Injured In Seychelles Blast At Explosives Depot". Barron's. 7 December 2023. Retrieved 24 December 2023.
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