[ad_1]
On the afternoon of March 7, 2021, Sisto Asumu’s life changed in an instant.
A huge explosion rocked a military camp just one hundred meters (yards) from the house where the 26-year-old lived with his uncle and aunt on the outskirts of Bata, the economic capital of Equatorial Guinea.
Stockpiles of explosives in the camp had accidentally detonated, destroying neighboring residential areas, killing 107 people and injuring 615 others.
“I was sleeping and suddenly the ceiling collapsed on me,” Asumu recalls, wincing. “Even thunder scares me now.”
But like many others who survived the blast, three weeks later, Asumu and her family wonder how they will deal with hunger and homelessness.
Bulldozers are still clearing debris almost three weeks later. By – (AFP) “We sleep in church because our house is destroyed.”
Other victims seek refuge with relatives in other villages, stay with friends, or crowd into makeshift shelters.
Everyone expects some kind of help.
‘Nothing remains’
A string of explosions reduced the military camp and the surrounding area to piles of debris stretching for kilometers (miles). Bulldozers are still clearing debris almost three weeks later.
In a vacant lot, the shells of wrecked cars are stacked on top of each other.
A team of explosives experts from the United States is working on the scene to deactivate any unexploded ordnance.
In the wake of the disaster, President Teodoro Obiang Nguema, whose 42-year reign makes him Africa’s oldest leader, blamed local farmers for allowing stubble burning to get out of control, soldiers in the camp for “negligence “in the storage of explosives.
Soraya, 27, was staying in Nkoa Ntoma with her soldier husband and children when the explosion occurred.
“I don’t know what happened, I just heard ‘BOOM’, the roof fell off and the walls collapsed,” he says.
“I didn’t even know where my three children were, other people took care of them, and thank God none of them died.”
Although the official figure of 107 does not specify ages, witnesses tell AFP that many children were among the victims.
Upon returning to the ruins of her house, Soraya already found that someone had stolen her savings.
“He had 190,000 CFA francs (285 euros),” he laments, “and there was nothing left.”
A team of explosives experts from the United States is working on the scene to deactivate any unexploded ordnance. By – (AFP) Bata is home to around 800,000 of the 1.4 million people of Equatorial Guinea, a state that enjoys oil and gas wealth but where most people live below the poverty line.
The government says it has released 10 billion CFA francs, or about 15 million euros, to help the victims.
“They gave me 500,000 francs and a mattress,” says Florencia Mbang cheerfully.
But many others have yet to see signs of help, like 33-year-old Luisa Ada.
“My name is not on the lists although my ward officer came and marked us, my six children and me,” says the widow, “I have not had help and my house is destroyed.”
‘What about tomorrow?’
The government transformed the schools into temporary shelters for those whose homes were destroyed, but witnesses say they were poorly equipped and nearly empty.
Map of Equatorial Guinea that locates the economic center of the country, Bata, and the capital, Malabo. By (AFP) In the end, it has been solidarity between family members, a hallmark of Equatorial Guinean culture, in which the victims have relied, piling into houses that are still standing in the city or returning to more distant villages. .
“I lost both my houses,” laments Teresa Nchama, 50, “I lived with my four grandchildren.”
Joaquina Efua, 35, who makes a living selling lemons, is frustrated at having to take refuge with relatives.
“I had to go live with my sister-in-law,” sighs the young mother, six months pregnant with her fifth child.
“We are nine people in a house made of wooden boards and only three bedrooms.”
It has also been difficult to find food.
“I gave my children 500 CFA francs (about 75 euro cents) to buy rice, I bought some beignets for 100 francs,” whispers Efua, “I barely have 100 francs left. And yesterday the neighbor gave us two packages of pasta. What about tomorrow?”
“Only God knows,” he says.
