Sixteen people were killed in a fire at a nightclub in Yeonde, Cameroon, between Saturday 22 January and Sunday 23 January 2022. It all started with fireworks and the fire got very hot. Survivors and witnesses of the tragedy share their experiences in front of Le360sport.

Cameroon did not require this event, after several failures recorded during this African Cup of Nations. Even if the fire is not associated with the sporting event, an incident in this period will do little damage to the image of the country. Because there are thousands of visitors to Cameroon, who frequent the nightclubs of Yaoundé, Douala, Limbe and other cities where the competition takes place.

On the night of Saturday 22 to Sunday 23 January, this unfortunate incident happened at Lives Nightclub, a nightclub in the beautiful neighborhoods of Yaonde. Apparently the place was crowded with people and many of the victims were burnt alive. According to the Cameroonian government, sixteen people lost their lives there. Of course, the toll could increase.

“An accidental fire” broke out and “the first report left 16 dead (…) and eight seriously injured”, the Ministry of Communications announced in a press release.

“The drama, which was usually caused by explosions from the fireworks used at these locations, first incinerated the roof of the building, then two high-amplitude explosions, resulting in panic and scuffles,” the ministry said. continues.

“When we arrived, there was panic, there was a strong fire with a lot of smoke”, a fire official in Yaonde told AFP on condition of anonymity, “We counted 16 dead and five injured.

“I’ve got bruises everywhere, I’ve got burns that make me hot, I can’t walk on my own,” explains one of the second degree burn victims found at Yaounde Hospital. “I saw the flames and I managed to make my way through the crowd to get out and beg a motorist to take me to the hospital,” she continues.

This is not the first time such incidents have happened in Cameroon. Fires and fatal stampedes also occur quite frequently.

In the economic capital Douala in the south, over the past six years, at least five nightclubs have been the scene of accidental fires that have partially or completely destroyed the establishment.

A nightclub was also the scene of a deadly stampede after a fight two years ago.

Cameroon by DNES in Thousand Taufiqi