Yaounde: Fire ravages several shops at Biscuiterie neighborhood

By Hans Ngala

A fire outbreak has ravaged several shops at the Biscuiterie neighborhood of Yaounde.
According to a witness who spoke to CNA on the phone, the fire started around 8PM and there were explosions as a result of a gas leak:

“We are lucky that the potholes here at Biyem Assi had rain water standing in them. That’s what we used to douse the raging flames as we waited for the firefighters to show up” he explained.
Speaking to this reporter, he explained that the fire started at a restaurant that has now been reduced to ashes

“People kept hearing explosions as bottles were burning and bursting. It was only when a gas cylinder exploded that the flames were seen and by then it was already too late as the fire had spread and consumed several business premises” our source added.

“Given that this is a predominantly Anglophone neighborhood, security forces immediately rushed here thinking this could be an explosive device that had been planted” our source also noted.
The damage to property can be estimated at millions of CFA Francs. No human casualty was recorded in the fire outbreak.

Police investigations are ongoing and will establish the cause of the fire.