The explosion flattened commercial buildings and destroyed residences on the eastern coast of Mahé island, BBC News reports.
Seychelles President Wavel Ramkalawan has ordered everyone except essential workers to stay at home.
Several people were injured and others were evacuated.
The explosion occurred at 2 a.m. local time at a construction and mining company where explosives were stored in four containers.
The international airport was also damaged, despite being four kilometers from the site of the explosion.
Schools have been closed and hospitals are only accepting emergency patients.
Travel is only permitted to or from the holiday islands to the main island.
“The Seychelles International Airport is still operational and inter-island ferry services are operating for visitors,” the country’s official account on X said.
Furthermore, exceptionally heavy rainfall caused floods and landslides. Three people died when their homes were destroyed.
Due to the flooding, sewage has flowed into the ocean and people are advised not to enter the water.
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2023-12-07 12:41:42
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