Conakry:

At least eight people were killed and 84 injured after an explosion at an oil terminal in Guinea’s capital Conakry early Monday, a senior police official said.

The official said the death toll was provisional and the fire was being brought under control.

The explosion at the West African country’s only oil terminal rocked the Kaloum administrative district in the city of Conakry, blowing out the windows of several nearby homes and forcing hundreds of people to flee the area, according to a Reuters witness. .

Reading Yemen’s Houthis claim attack on Norwegian tanker

The massive fire and plumes of black smoke could be seen from miles away as firefighters rushed to the area, while several tanker trucks left the depot escorted by soldiers and police.

A Guinean government spokesman did not immediately respond to a request for comment.