By Anye Valentine-Bamenda
The Government of Cameroon has said 16 people were killed as a result of the fire that broke out at LIVS nightclub in the Capital, Yaounde.
The incident occurred Sunday morning at about 3am.
Videos seen on social media show bodies being damaged by fire while some injured persons were being rushed to the hospital.
Among those who were killed was an Army Colonel, Biloa Ekengue Patrice, who was inhcarged of security at the Yaounde Nsimalen Airport.
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Authorities are afraid the number might increase. However, measures have been taken to ensure the treatment of the injured while also tackling such from happening especially at the moment the country is hosting the biggest sports jamboree, Africa Cup of Nations.
According to several witnesses, the fire was caused an explosion. It all started with a champagne cork which was accompanied fire, though it lost lost control and engulfed the ceiling.
“We opened champagne and the cork popped. It created a mass on a power wire at ceiling level” a witness whose name we could not get said “When the fire started, People applauded thinking it was fireworks,”
It is believed the first victim was a waitperson who tried to put out the fire. He was the only son of his mother, he is the son of the former SDO Isidore Ateba. There is also talk of the DJ and a bouncer who are said to have died. This bouncer would have even saved several people that evening but died trying, according to the testimony of one of his neighbours.
