Kebetu – At least 22 people were killed in a fire at a Muslim religious retreat in southeastern Senegal, firefighters said today, with 87 injured. The fire broke out yesterday as worshippers gathered in the town of Medina Gounass for the event, a senior official with the firefighters said, adding that around 20 of the injured were in a serious state. President Macky Sall offered condolences to victims’ families. He said the interior ministry would visit the site Thursday. Senegalese national TV reported that strong winds and makeshift shelters allowed the fire to spread, though the cause of the fire was not immediately known. Thousands of Muslim men from Senegal, Guinea and other West African countries meet annually in Medina Gounass for the spiritual retreat.
Photo credit: Khadim Fall (Twitter)
Photo credit: Khadim Fall (Twitter)
Photo credit: Khadim Fall (Twitter)
Photo credit: Khadim Fall (Twitter)