A fire broke out at the building of the Canadian Embassy in Abuja, Nigeria, on Monday morning, killing two people and injuring two others, according to local authorities.
The fire was reportedly caused by an explosion of a tanker inside the generator building of the embassy, located at 13010G, Palm Close, Diplomatic Drive, Central Business District. The explosion occurred around 11:55 a.m. local time and sent thick black smoke into the air.
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Fire Service responded to the scene and extinguished the fire by 1 p.m., said Mercy Douglass, a spokesperson for the fire service.
Douglass said the two victims who died were employees of the company that managed the generator, while the two injured were outside the building at the time of the explosion. They were taken to a nearby hospital for treatment.
The Canadian Embassy provides visa and immigration services for those seeking to visit or emigrate to Canada. It also offers services to Canadians visiting and living in Nigeria and to Canadians in Equatorial Guinea, and Sao Tome and Principe.
The embassy has temporarily suspended its services and consultations due to the fire, according to its website. It also advised Canadians in need of emergency consular assistance to contact the Emergency Watch and Response Centre in Ottawa.
The cause of the explosion and the fire is still under investigation. No official statement has been issued by the Canadian government or the Nigerian authorities as of yet.
