Tragedy in Douala: Fatal Explosion in Bakery Claims Lives of Baker and 10-Year-Old Child

Two other individuals sustained severe injuries and are currently fighting for their lives in the intensive care unit of a medical facility in Douala.

Eyewitnesses reported that the peaceful atmosphere of the neighborhood was shattered by a deafening noise emanating from the bakery, capturing the attention of passersby.

The situation quickly escalated as wild flames engulfed the building, leaving devastation in their wake.

Mirabel, the mother of the 10-year-old victim, tearfully recounted the tragic sequence of events.

Speaking to Equinox TV, she explained that her son had been lured into the bakery by one of the bakers who asked him to buy a bottle of beer.

Tragically, the explosion occurred just as the young boy returned with the beverage.

"The other son went in and saw him. He came out screaming for help before a neighbor pulled him out. They said one of the workers had sent him to buy beer. When he brought the beer to give them, that's when the explosion happened," Mirabel lamented.

A witness who rushed to the scene after hearing the commotion confirmed that one of the victims had died instantly.

"When I came here, I heard that one of the workers had died inside. Shortly after, the firefighters came and confirmed that one worker had indeed died," reported the witness.

Mirabel expressed her despair as her son succumbed to his injuries during a harrowing journey between hospitals, ultimately meeting a tragic end on the way to Laquintinie Hospital.

"I pleaded until they took him to Bingo Annex. When they went there, there was no oxygen. They went to Bonassama, but there was still no oxygen. We were asked to take him to Laquintinie, and he died on the way," she lamented.

While firefighters battled the blaze for about three hours, successfully preventing it from spreading to nearby buildings, the material damages are estimated to be in the millions of CFA francs.

Although the exact cause of the explosion remains unknown, authorities have initiated investigations to shed light on this incident, plunging the community into mourning.