Cameroon Fuel Tanker Blast in Tiko Leaves Eight Dead, Homes Destroyed. BUEA, PAV — December 13, 2025 — At least eight people have been confirmed dead and ten houses destroyed following a catastrophic fuel tanker explosion on the Likomba Hill axis in Tiko, Fako Division, early Friday morning.
The incident also resulted in the destruction of eight vehicles and three persons hospitalized with severe burns.
The Senior Divisional Officer for Fako, Viang Mekala, swiftly responded to the scene upon receiving reports of the explosion. He later briefed the press on the scale of the disaster and the emergency response measures taken.
According to Mekala, the accident involved a petroleum tanker carrying over 30,000 litres of fuel, which reportedly lost its brakes while descending the steep Likomba Hill.
The tanker crashed and exploded, setting off an uncontrollable fireball that engulfed nearby houses and vehicles along the busy national road, severely disrupting traffic and posing a risk to residents. “
The tanker had an accident, and the accident provoked an explosion. All the houses that were just beside got burned because of the fire incident, “the SDO explained.
In response to the disaster, firefighting teams from SONARA and Douala were deployed to reinforce local efforts. Mekala emphasized the priority of evacuating the population around the roadside and extinguishing the fire.
The combined efforts of the fire brigades helped bring the blaze largely under control, with officials estimating that about 90 per cent of the fire had been extinguished at the time of the briefing.
Traffic on the national road, which had been temporarily suspended due to the risk of further explosions, was reopened later that day.
The Fako SDO confirmed the recovery of eight bodies from the scene, cautioning that the death toll could rise as rescue and assessment operations continue. Eight vehicles were completely burned, while nearly ten houses were reduced to ashes.
Three survivors with burn injuries were evacuated to the hospital for treatment.
The incident has left families, the Tiko municipality, and the nation in mourning, raising renewed concerns over road safety, the condition of heavy — duty vehicles, and the risks associated with fuel transportation along major highways. Authorities have indicated that investigations will be launched to establish full responsibility and prevent similar tragedies in the future.
Officials commented on the matter.
