-
Four workers have been killed and 16 others severely burnt following an explosion and fire at Metafrique Steel’s factory in Douala, Cameroon.
-
Littoral Region Governor, Samuel Dieudonné Ivaha Diboua, has accused the company of failing to implement safety measures prescribed after an earlier fire at the facility.
-
The governor has called for the suspension of the factory’s operations as authorities begin investigations into the latest disaster.
-
The company has attributed the explosion to an external factor but says investigations are ongoing to establish the precise cause.
November 03, (THEWILL) – Four workers have been killed, and 16 others left fighting for their lives after an explosion triggered a devastating fire at Metafrique Steel’s factory in Douala, Cameroon, amid allegations that the company ignored safety warnings issued after an earlier fire at the facility.
The explosion occurred at about 7 am on Monday, November 2, at the company’s iron-smelting plant in the Bassa Industrial Zone of Douala, the country’s commercial capital.
THEWILL gathered that the blast triggered a fire that spread through parts of the industrial facility, trapping workers and leaving several others with severe burns before emergency responders arrived to contain the inferno and evacuate survivors.
Littoral Region Governor, Samuel Dieudonné Ivaha Diboua, confirmed the casualties, saying an army rescue team recovered four bodies from the factory, while 16 injured workers were evacuated to Douala General Hospital for emergency treatment.
The governor, who visited the scene and the hospital, expressed concern over the scale of the casualties and the condition of the injured workers, many of whom sustained severe burns.
Governor Accuses Company Of Ignoring Safety Measures
Diboua criticised the management of Metafrique Steel over what he described as its failure to comply with safety requirements imposed after an earlier fire at the factory in May 2026.
He called for the suspension of the company’s operations, insisting that the repeated incidents required urgent attention from the authorities.
The governor’s position followed a visit to the factory, where he assessed the damage and received information about the rescue operation.
He also indicated that an investigation would be conducted to establish the circumstances surrounding the explosion and determine whether the company complied with the safety directives issued after the previous incident.
Company Blames External Factor
Metafrique Steel, in a statement following the explosion, confirmed that its facility in the Bassa Industrial Park had been affected.
The company attributed the incident to an “external factor”, while acknowledging that the precise cause had yet to be established.
It expressed regret over the loss of lives and injuries sustained by workers, adding that investigations were ongoing to determine what led to the explosion.
The company’s position came amid the governor’s criticism of its safety arrangements and allegations that measures prescribed after the previous fire had not been implemented.
Authorities are expected to establish the immediate cause of the blast and determine whether any breaches of industrial safety regulations contributed to the disaster.
READ ALSO:
Previous Fire At Same Factory
The November 2 explosion is the latest in a series of fire incidents involving the Metafrique Steel facility.
On the night of April 30 into May 1, 2026, another fire broke out at the factory, leaving at least 10 workers injured, including nine Cameroonians and an Indian national, according to reports on the incident.
The company temporarily suspended production following that fire while investigations were conducted into its cause.
The latest disaster has brought renewed attention to the safety conditions at the factory, particularly the governor’s allegation that recommendations and safety measures introduced after the earlier incident were not fully implemented.
The facility had also recorded a fire in April 2022, when part of its raw material stock was affected, although no deaths were reported.
As of Tuesday, there was no independent confirmation that a formal shutdown order had been issued over the latest incident
About Metafrique Steel
Metafrique Steel SA is a subsidiary of the Indian-owned Metafrique Group and has operated in Cameroon for approximately 15 years.
The company specialises in recycling scrap metal and other ferrous waste to manufacture steel products, including reinforcing rods used in the construction industry.
Its factory in Douala is located within the Bassa Industrial Zone, one of the country’s major industrial areas.
The company employs hundreds of workers and supplies steel products to Cameroon’s construction and manufacturing sectors.
The latest explosion has left four families mourning their loved ones and 16 workers receiving medical attention, as authorities investigate the circumstances surrounding the disaster and the allegations of repeated safety failures at the plant.
Felix Ifijeh is a journalist with years of professional reporting experience. Known for his keen news sense, compelling storytelling and commitment to accurate, impactful reporting, he has built a reputation for turning leads into clear, engaging, and well-structured reports that resonate with readers. His work reflects deep newsroom experience and a commitment to accurate, impactful journalism.
