Authorities in Cameroon said 17 people are dead after fire erupted at a popular nightclub in the capital of Yaounde, The Associated Press reported.
In a statement on Sunday, officials said others were seriously injured in the fire at Livs Nightclub in Yaounde’s Bastos neighborhood and are being treated in an intensive care unit, according to the AP.
“We are still at the level of investigations to find out the names and nationalities of the dead and the wounded,” government spokesman Rene Emmanuel Sadi said in a statement.
Employees reportedly said the fire spread to an area where cooking gas was being stored.
The fire comes as Cameroon is currently hosting the African Cup of Nations soccer tournament, where thousands of players, fans and officials from across the continent are expected to be in the country for the month-long event.
The African Cup was originally scheduled for 2021, but was postponed due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
Cameroon President Paul Biya in a statement on Sunday called for calm and assured safety for participating players and tournament fans, the AP noted.