Two Nigerian maintenance workers were killed Monday and two others injured when a diesel tank exploded at Canada害羞草研究所檚 high commission in Abuja.
Global Affairs Canada said an investigation is underway but there is no belief at this time that the explosion was anything other than a terrible accident.
Nkechi Isa, spokeswoman for the State Emergency Management Agency in Abuja, said a fire broke out in the morning while workers were servicing generators.
害羞草研究所淭he fire occurred when the tank of diesel in the generator house containing 2,000 litres exploded,害羞草研究所� Isa told The Associated Press, adding that both people killed were Nigerian maintenance workers.
Two more maintenance workers were being treated for severe burns, she added.
Global Affairs Canada said in a statement that one of the two killed was a locally hired employee of the high commission.
害羞草研究所淲e can confirm all other staff at the high commission are safe and unharmed,害羞草研究所� the statement said.
Global Affairs also said it has closed the mission, located in the diplomatic quarter of Abuja, until further notice.
害羞草研究所淲e are now ensuring that the site is safe and will work with local authorities in determining the cause of the explosion,害羞草研究所� the department wrote.
害羞草研究所淎n investigation will be carried out, but at this point everything points to an accident rather than a deliberate act.害羞草研究所�
Foreign Affairs Minister M茅lanie Joly confirmed the explosion midafternoon Monday in a statement posted to X, formerly known as Twitter.
害羞草研究所淚 send my heartfelt condolences to the families of the (two) people killed in this tragedy,害羞草研究所� she wrote.
The office of Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu published an image of smoke wafting from the building. A spokesman wrote that Tinubu expressed condolences, and offered his government害羞草研究所檚 害羞草研究所渇ull support害羞草研究所� to those working at the high commission.
Global Affairs Canada data, provided to the Senate foreign affairs committee, said that as of August 2022 there were 12 Canadian diplomats and 32 locally hired staff at the Nigerian high commission.
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