Four Dead, 16 Seriously Burned After Explosion at Cameroon Steel Factory

An explosion at an iron and steel processing plant in Douala, Cameroon, has killed at least four people and left 16 others with severe burn injuries, following a major fire that engulfed parts of the industrial facility.

The incident occurred on Monday morning, November 2, 2026, at Metafrique Steel, located in the Bassa Industrial Park in Douala, the country’s commercial capital.

According to Littoral Region Governor Samuel Dieudonné Ivaha Diboua, emergency responders recovered four bodies from the facility after the explosion triggered a fire. Sixteen injured workers were rescued and transported to Douala General Hospital for medical treatment.

The governor expressed concern about the condition of the injured, indicating that the severity of their burns made their recovery uncertain.

Company responds as authorities investigate

Metafrique Steel confirmed that its facilities had been affected by the incident, describing it as an occurrence caused by an external factor. However, the company stated that the exact circumstances surrounding the explosion had not yet been established.

The incident has renewed concerns about industrial safety and the protection of workers in Cameroon’s manufacturing sector.

Governor Diboua also raised concerns about the implementation of safety measures at the facility, particularly following an earlier fire at the same factory in May 2026.

That previous incident reportedly left 10 people injured and resulted in a temporary suspension of production.

Possible suspension of factory operations

Following the latest disaster, authorities announced investigations to establish what caused the explosion and determine whether safety requirements were properly enforced.

The governor indicated that the factory’s operations should be suspended while the situation is assessed. Some local reports also indicate that an immediate halt to operations was ordered.

The latest tragedy has intensified calls for stronger workplace safety enforcement and improved emergency preparedness across industrial facilities in Cameroon.

Investigations are expected to establish the circumstances that led to the explosion, while attention remains focused on the recovery of the injured workers and support for the families of those who lost their lives.