2007 Freetown explosion

The 2007 Freetown explosion was an explosion that occurred on Free Street in downtown Freetown, Sierra Leone which killed at least 18 people on 20 December 2007.

Background

It was believed that the explosion was caused by the combination of a gas leak and fire inside a Nigerian-owned clothing store just off the main street of Freetown. Killing at least 17 people, the explosion also trapped a significant number of people underneath the rubble. The explosion damaged a fire engine which was on the scene to battle the fire inside. The Connaught Hospital was reported to have struggled in caring for the wounded. Both President Ernest Bai Koroma and Vice President Samuel Sam-Sumana visited injured people in the hospital.

Sources