A heavy explosion in the city of Bata (in the continental region of Equatorial Guinea) caused on Sunday the death of over 100 people and injured over 600, with almost 300 remaining in hospital on Monday evening.

The blast happened in the military headquarters of Nkoatama. According to the Guinea’s President, the explosion happened because of the “negligence of the unity in charge of caring for the dynamite and explosives deposit”, Teodoro Obiang said in a statement read on television.

“The shock waves from the explosions caused great damage to almost all buildings in Bata”, he added.

Victims among evangelical churches

“Among the death there would be a pastor of the Baptist church”, informed from Spain the UEBE (Evangelical Baptists Union of Spain), a church denomination that has strong ties with Equatorial Guinea.

One of the buildings affected by the shock waves was the Baptist Church of Bata, which lost the roof of its facilities. UEBE also informed that several church members would have lost relatives and have been injured or experienced damages in their housing.

One of the Baptist missionaries in Equatorial Guinea, Marta Nombela, said “the situation is very critical, but thank God the neighbourhood where the house of our mission is was not as affected as others”.

“We have never gone through a situation like this. We are fearful and very worried, but we rest in the Lord”, said another young Christian in Bata.

Christian works on the ground

The department of Social Work of UEBE opened a bank account for those who want to support financially “the brothers and sisters as well as the mission in Guinea” (IBAN: ES27 2100 3456 1822 0015 0062). “Let’s continue to pray for Bata and for so many families that have been affected”.

The Christian NGO +QSalud (More than just Health) also has a long experience working in Bata, where they train medicine students. In a message shared on social media, the group explained: “Some of our closest co-workers have lost their home and everything they had. We have organised a fundraising to help the victims”, they added (IBAN: ES67 2100 5762 39 0200017076 / concept: Ayuda Catástrofe Guinea).