Senegal Blast Kills at Least 60
A tanker truck loaded with liquid ammonia exploded at a peanut-processing factory in Dakar on Tuesday, killing at least 60 people and injuring about 250, the Senegalese Press Agency said.
A shortage of gas masks made rescue efforts difficult because of toxic ammonia gas, and dozens of workers were seen lying on the ground more than an hour after the explosion, the agency said.
The blast was the worst ever industrial accident in this West African nation, the news agency said, attributing the toll figures to the governor’s office.
The news agency said witnesses reported that the truck blew up about 2 p.m. during the busiest part of the workday at the factory, which converts peanuts into oil.
Liquid ammonia is used to detoxify the pulp that remains after the oil has been extracted from peanuts. It can then be used in fertilizers and animal feed.
Peanuts and peanut products are Senegal’s main export.
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