A devastating fire engulfed a massive military ammunition depot in N’Djamena, Chad’s capital city, sending powerful explosions illuminating the night sky and causing widespread panic.

The blaze, which broke out late on Tuesday, sent a series of intense explosions rippling through the city, with ammunition firing off in rapid succession. The inferno cast a fiery glow over the city, painting the sky with a reddish hue.

Chadian President Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno confirmed that multiple people had lost their lives and others were injured in the disaster. He extended his condolences to the families of the victims and wished a speedy recovery to those injured.

The fire raged for several hours before slowly dying down around midnight. The blasts were so powerful that they shook buildings as far as seven kilometers away, with the flames visible for miles.

One resident, Kadidja Dakou, a 36-year-old mother of three, described the terrifying experience: “I was at home when the roof of our house was blown off by one of the explosions. We fled with our neighbors, fearing our houses would collapse.”

The authorities cordoned off the area with a heavy security presence, where thick red smoke lingered long after the blasts ceased.

Foreign Minister Abderaman Koulamallah urged calm on social media, stating that “huge explosions” occurred at the site.

The depot, located near the international airport and a French military base, contains multiple homes and is situated near where French troops are stationed.

An official with the French forces confirmed that ammunition of all calibres exploded during the fire, but reported no injuries among French personnel.