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Benin landfill blast kills two: police

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AFP Cotonou
At least two people were killed scores more injured after an explosion at a garbage dump in Benin, police said today.

The blast happened last evening, with the fire erupting in Tori Avame, 40 kilometres from Benin's commercial hub, Cotonou.

"We recorded a total of two dead and 61 injured as a result of this tragedy that occurred in this landfill, " Richard Akodande, head of the accident department at Cotonou police, told AFP.

"A company dumped flour and spoilt wheat and sprinkled petrol on it to burn it," he added.

Local people flocked to areas that were not burning to try to get the flour when there was an explosion, according to one witness.
 

Akodande added: "Police were at the scene to try and prevent people from rushing to the products but were overwhelmed.

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First Published: Sep 09 2016 | 7:42 PM IST

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