Equatorial Guinea holds funeral for explosions victims

The government of Equatorial Guinea on Friday organized an official funeral in Bata for the more than 100 victims in the explosions that rocked the country's most populous city on March 7, reported Xinhua.

During the ceremony, the list of the 107 deceased was read. The coffins were all covered with the flag of Equatorial Guinea, and the presidential couple laid a wreath. Vice-President Teodoro Nguema Obiang Mangue gave each victim a posthumous medal.

In his speech, Equatorial Guinean President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo offered his condolences and reaffirmed the government's commitment to rebuilding the city. He called for the solidarity of the populations, and thanked countries like China which helped his country in this difficult period.

On March 7, explosive warehouses at the Nkoantoma military camp in Bata caught fire following a nearby farm fire, causing explosions. In addition to the 107 dead, the tragedy also left more than 600 injured.

According to a presidential decree issued on March 9, the city of Bata has been declared a disaster zone, and the government has released ten billion CFA francs as an initial emergency fund.