The fire that occurred this Saturday, September 23 in Sèmè-Kraké, on the Beninese-Nigerian border, caused a real tragedy. With a new toll showing at least 35 deaths, the scale of this disaster leaves the local community in mourning and arouses concern among families who are desperately searching for their missing loved ones.
The disaster broke out in an oil warehouse with an area of 1,000 square meters, located in the middle of shops. The firefighters, quickly on site, found themselves confronted with an extremely complex and dangerous situation. The flames quickly consumed the structures, reducing motorcycles, cars and surrounding buildings to ashes.
Lieutenant-Colonel Dalys Ahouangbénon, number 2 of the fire brigade, reports that among the victims are men, women and at least one child. Injured people were evacuated, while others are missing. Witnesses at the scene claim to have heard an explosion shortly before the fire, but the origin of the fire remains unknown.
The images of charred bodies are particularly traumatic and bear witness to the violence of the fire. The bones are sometimes the only clues to determine the identity of the victims. The entire village gathers in front of the warehouse, plunged into mourning and incomprehension over this tragic day.
The local community is mobilized, with many relatives traveling to the scene of the fire in search of their missing family and friends. Anxiety and uncertainty reign, as evidenced by the poignant stories of a driver without news of his younger brother employed in the warehouse, or of a man searching for his missing wife.
The location of the warehouse, in the heart of a shopping area, including a fruit market, reveals the extent of fuel smuggling plaguing the region. This illicit activity, although dangerous, is often motivated by the lack of economic choices of those involved. The Beninese government, aware of this reality, had already put in place a program for the integration and retraining of those involved in fuel smuggling.
Following this tragedy, the Minister of State for Finance, Romuald Wadagni, went to the side of the injured and announced the summons of those involved in fuel trafficking to present a new government reconversion program. This initiative aims to offer legal and secure economic alternatives to individuals forced to engage in illicit activities to survive.
Faced with this tragedy, the village of Sèmè-Kraké is plunged into deep dismay. The authorities, political figures and the population are mobilizing to support bereaved families and think about lasting solutions to put an end to fuel smuggling.
It is a tragic lesson that reminds us of the devastating consequences of illegality and the need to provide viable economic opportunities for all people. Preventing such tragedies requires collective action, combining the repression of illicit activities and the promotion of a legal and inclusive economy. Hopefully this tragedy will serve as a catalyst for meaningful change in this region and beyond.