Tragic Blast At Canadian High Commission In Abuja Claims Lives & Injures Many

Tragic Blast at Canadian High Commission in Abuja Claims Lives and Injures Others

In a devastating turn of events, the Canadian High Commission in Abuja was rocked by an explosion that tragically claimed the lives of two individuals and inflicted injuries on two others. The incident, which occurred within the premises dedicated to housing the generators, was promptly attended to by the fire service authorities who responded to the emergency call.

According to Mercy Douglass, a representative of the FCT Fire Service, the explosion originated from a tanker situated within the generator’s enclosure. “The explosion was powerful, claiming the lives of two workers employed by the entity tasked with the upkeep of the generators,” Douglass conveyed to CBC News. She continued to relay that the blast also resulted in injuries to two bystanders who were outside the facility at the time. These individuals are currently under medical care, receiving treatment for their injuries.

The impact of the explosion was such that it caught the attention of the wider community, with an eyewitness capturing and sharing on social media footage of thick, dark smoke surging from the site.

Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly, addressing the incident via social media, expressed that efforts are underway to ascertain the cause of the explosion. Minister Joly extended her deepest sympathies to the bereaved families, stating, “I send my heartfelt condolences to the families of the two people killed in this tragedy.”

Details provided by Douglass outlined that the fire service received the distress call at approximately 11:55 a.m. on Monday. The ensuing operation saw firefighters working diligently to extinguish the blaze and prevent further escalation. By 1 p.m., the situation was reported to be under control, with firefighters retreating to their station.

Further information regarding the nationality and identities of the casualties, and whether they included Canadian citizens, was not immediately available. Douglass stated that confirmation on these details was pending.

In pursuit of more comprehensive information regarding the calamity, CBC News has initiated contact with Global Affairs Canada. As of this writing, a full briefing from the department detailing the specifics of the incident remains forthcoming.