A powerful explosion of accidental origin occurred on Tuesday, July 7, 2026, in the early afternoon, in the courtyard of the Ivorian Customs office in Ferkessédougou. The incident caused significant material damage in the area and resulted in one minor injury.

Origin of the disaster

As part of a project to meet ISO certification standards, customs officials had begun emptying their warehouse of seized goods in order to renovate the building. It was during the incineration of these goods—which, unbeknownst to the officers, contained highly dangerous explosive materials—that the explosion occurred.

A significant amount of material damage occurred within a radius of 500 meters.

Although thankfully no lives were lost, the blast caused significant damage in the surrounding area:

1. Material damage: The windows and shutters of the prefecture, customs offices, the national gendarmerie detachment, and several riverside homes were shattered within a radius of approximately 500 meters.
2. Human toll: One person was slightly injured. They were immediately taken to a local hospital.

Reactions from the authorities and the opening of an investigation

The prefect of the Tchologo region and the department of Ferkessédougou, Jean-Pierre Sory, quickly went to the site of the incident. He was accompanied on this occasion by the first deputy mayor, Coulibaly Bakary, the commander of the local Customs, as well as officials from the Defense and Security Forces (FDS).

In response to the emotion aroused by the event, the prefect urged the population to remain calm and serene, inviting them to continue their daily activities as normal.

An official investigation has been launched to determine precisely the responsibilities and exact circumstances of this explosion.