A terrible tragedy shook the town of Niagues, in the commune of Tivaouane-Peulh. A couple, known for tumultuous relationships, was found dead in their burned house, after a loud detonation that occurred on the night of Thursday December 12 to Friday December 13, 2024. According to information reported by The Observera maid employed by the couple was also seriously burned and is in critical condition in hospital.
According to The Observerit was shortly after midnight that the residents of the HLM 3 Darou Salam district were suddenly awakened by a powerful detonation, similar to the collapse of a building. Rushing out of their homes, they were confronted with an apocalyptic scene: flames and thick black smoke were escaping from the home of the Seck couple, who lived with their four children and a servant.
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Despite their mobilization to organize relief, the residents were quickly hampered by the smoke and the configuration of the house, built like a fortress. “It was almost impossible to get there without going through the door, which was double-locked,” a witness confided to The Observer. Guided by the heartbreaking calls of the husband, transformed into a human torch according to witnesses, the neighbors braved the danger to try to rescue the occupants. “We had to climb the roof to enter through the courtyard and open the door,” says Oumar Ndiaye Fall, a neighbor interviewed by The Observer. Once the fire was brought under control after several hours of effort, residents discovered a macabre scene: the dying husband, seriously burned, in the living room, and his wife, Khady Diouf, found lifeless in their bedroom, between the wardrobe and bed.
The servant was found alive but seriously burned. As for the four children, they miraculously escaped the flames. “They are traumatized, but safe and sound,” said a witness to The Observer. According to the first findings relayed by The Observerthe hypotheses of a gas cylinder explosion or a short circuit were ruled out. “The gas bottles were intact, and the electrical circuit presented no anomaly,” insists Oumar Ndiaye Fall.
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Speculation is rife in the neighborhood and at the “Lambada” market in Yeumbeul, where the couple ran a food business. Those around them speak of frequent domestic disputes, suggesting that the fire could be linked to an altercation that went wrong. The testimony of the servant, currently hospitalized, is eagerly awaited to clarify the circumstances of this tragedy. “She is the only one who can tell us what really happened,” said a resident quoted by The Observeradding that the entire neighborhood is praying for his survival.
While awaiting the results of the autopsies and the conclusions of the investigation carried out by the Niagues gendarmerie, emotions remain high at HLM 3 Darou Salam. “This night will remain engraved in our memories,” whispers a neighbor, his eyes red with exhaustion and grief.
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