Seychelles in state of emergency after blast at explosives depot comes hours after deadly flooding
- Three people died in the flooding, President Wavel Ramkalawant said. No deaths were reported from the explosion on Seychelles’ main island of Mahe
- Ramkalawant announced the state of emergency in a statement from his office, ordering schools to close and people to stay at home
The tiny Indian Ocean island nation of Seychelles declared a state of emergency on Thursday following a huge blast at an explosives depot that occurred after deadly flooding hit other parts of the country. Three people died in the flooding, the president said.
More than 100 were injured in the explosion in the industrial area of Providence – around 7 km (4.3 miles) southeast of the capital, Victoria – on Seychelles’ main island of Mahe.
The explosion destroyed buildings and flattened trees in the vicinity. National TV showed people at hospitals and clinics bloodied with injuries after the blast. No deaths were reported from the explosion.
The explosion happened at around 2am local time on Thursday and followed heavy rain and flooding late on Wednesday night, which mostly hit the northern part of Mahe. Houses were flooded, parts of roads were washed away, and the water caused landslides in some areas.
Two of the people who died in the flooding were trapped in their home, authorities said.