Deadly Sudan factory explosion kills more than 20

A fire triggered by an explosion in a factory in the Sudanese capital on Tuesday has killed more than 20 people and injured dozens, police and medical sources said.

Thick plumes of black smoke billowed into the sky of Khartoum on Tuesday afternoon after the blaze broke out. 

Footage circulated online showed an explosion launch a ball of fire into the sky, sending workers at the ceramics factory scrambling for cover.

At least 23 people lost their lives in the blaze, Brigadier General Hassan Abdullah, police director for the northern Khartoum neighbourhood of Bahri, told Reuters.

Dozens more were injured, he added, six of them in critical condition.

The Central Sudanese Doctors Committee confirmed the fire had killed at least 16 people, adding that the injured were being treated for burns at local hospitals.

— أمين عبدالله (@ameenmohamed) December 3, 2019" style="color:#fff;" class="twitter-post-link" target="_blank">Twitter Post مكافحة الحريق داخل #حريق_مصنع_سيلا pic.twitter.com/JQcCs8MSFB — أمين عبدالله (@ameenmohamed) December 3, 2019

The casualties included employees of the factory from several countries, medical sources added. 

The blaze reportedly broke out after a gas tanker unloaded while unloading its shipment at the ceramics factory in the industrial zone of Bahri.

Sudan has suffered multiple industrial accidents in recent months, raising concerns over the adequacy of health and safety regulations.

Agencies contributed to this report

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