At least sixty people were reportedly killed on a gold panning site in Burkina Faso.
The incident on Monday followed an explosion of a dynamite warehouse on a Gomgombiro gold panning site in Gbomblora, a village located about fifteen kilometers from Gaoua in the South-West region.
Eyewitnesses said a fire broke out in the market located on the Gomgombiro gold panning site and spread quickly affecting several makeshift shops, including a store where explosives used by gold miners were on display,
Antoine Sylvanus Douamba, the high commissioner of the province of Poni on speaking on state Tv said his team arrived at the scene with bodies scattered on the ground.
According to sources, dozens of people including women and children died on the spot while the injured were transported to nearby health centers for medical attention.
Significant material damage was recorded on the site as well.
Meanwhile, the state prosecutor has ruled out any act of terrorism linked to the disaster but said an investigation has been launched to examine the exact cause or causes of this explosion.
