At least eight killed in Guinea oil terminal blast -police officer

Huge fire, billowing black smoke could be seen from miles away as firefighters rushed to area

CONAKRY:

At least eight people were killed and 84 injured following a blast at an oil terminal in Guinea's capital Conakry early on Monday, a senior police officer said.

The officer said the toll was provisional, adding that the blaze was being contained.

The blast at the West African nation's only oil terminal, rocked the Kaloum administrative district in downtown Conakry, blowing out the windows of several nearby homes and forcing hundreds to flee the area, according to a Reuters witness.

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A huge fire and billowing black smoke could be seen from miles away as firefighters rushed to the area, while several tanker trucks left the depot, escorted by soldiers and police.

A spokesman for the government of Guinea did not immediately respond to a request for comment.