Benin landfill explosion toll rises to eight: mayor

Source: The Business Standard

Eight people have now died after an explosion at a rubbish dump outside Cotonou in Benin, the local mayor said.

"Our tally is eight dead, six of them in hospital and two at home, and 87 injured," the mayor of Tori, Robert Tolegbon, told state television yesterday.

The authorities had initially reported two people killed and 61 injured in the blast, which happened in the Avame district of Tori, around 40 kilometres (25 miles) from Cotonou, on Thursday evening.

A company dumped flour and spoilt wheat at the landfill, setting it on fire, but local people flocked to areas that were not burning to try to get the foodstuffs when there was an explosion.

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