Kananga, 8 June 2012 – Firefighters from the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUSCO) put out a fire that started at a fuel storage facility in a busy area of Kananga, the capital of Kasai Occidental province, on Thursday, 7 June 2012 at about 5: 40 p.m.

Immediately after the news reached MONUSCO, a team of firefighters were dispatched to the area of the fire located at the junction of Shabunda and Noella de Roover streets, at the heart of Kananga's business district. It took two hours for the fighters to bring the blaze under control.

Reportedly, the blaze was sparked by a cellular phone that was being used inside the fuel storage. According to other sources, however, the fire started from a nearby restaurant before spreading to the fuel depot.

Though the incident claimed no human lives, it caused important material damage, including a food depot and a Jeep. The police opened an investigation to establish the facts and circumstances of the incident.

It should be remembered that in April 2012, the provincial Minister for Oil Products issued a decision for all fuel stations to be relocated to the outskirts of Kananga in the neighborhood of Kamayi. However, this measure was never implemented.

Lansana Dabo/ MONUSCO