Guinea resumes sale of gasoline after Conakry depot fire: summary

What we know

• Gasoline sales are set to resume nationwide starting December 23, 2023, the government has announced.
• Guinea enforced a ban on the sale of gasoline on December 18. The restriction was prompted by a devastating fire at the nation's largest fuel depot in Conakry, Guinee Matin reports
• The fire claimed the lives of 23 people and affected a significant number of individuals, totalling at least 10,337, including children, pregnant women, and individuals with disabilities.
• The explosion, the cause of which remains unknown, inflicted extensive damage to buildings within a radius exceeding one kilometre.
• Despite the ongoing efforts of firefighters, the fire persists.

What they said

“As of Saturday December 23, 2023, the sale of gasoline and diesel throughout the national territory is rationed as follows: 25 liters per vehicle, 5 liters per motorcycle and tricycle, ban on serving in cans, the circulation of tanker trucks is subject to a secure escort and a mission order,” Ousmane Gaoual Diallo, government spokesperson and Minister of Telecommunications was quoted by Guinee Matin . As regards persons who were injured, the government said in a statement, "despite the efforts by medical teams, we lament four new deaths today, bringing the total to 18. Of the 212 people treated by health workers, 127 have returned to their homes and 85 people are still hospitalised, including four in intensive care.”