The city of Bafatá, located in central Guinea-Bissau, was rocked by a devastating fire. The blaze, which reportedly started at a gas station on February 13th, claimed nine lives and left hundreds injured. According to the newspaper "O Democrata," the death toll has since risen. One of the five victims evacuated to Senegal a few days ago succumbed to their injuries yesterday, the newspaper reports, bringing the total number of fatalities to nine.

Public Health Minister Quinhim Nantote confirmed the death of one of the five burn victims in Bafatá who had been evacuated to receive specialist care in the neighbouring Republic of Senegal.

Following this announcement, the death toll from the fire that occurred on February 13 at one of the makeshift gas stations in the city of Bafatá has risen to nine.

At the national level, the official indicated that all the victims still hospitalized at the Simão Mendes National Hospital are in stable condition, thanks to the care and treatment provided by the national technical teams.

"The government hopes there will be no more deaths, as has happened in the past," he stressed.

Quinhim Nantote spoke to reporters after the Prime Minister's visit to the Simão Mendes National Hospital.

The newspaper O Demcrata reports that on the day of the fire, emergency services recorded 163 victims. These victims were admitted to the medical ward of the Bafatá Regional Hospital.

According to the clinical director, Mamadu Camará, 49 people out of a total of 163 were hospitalized. Some of the victims of the Bafatá fire suffered superficial burns, meaning first-degree burns. Others sustained second-degree burns, some with 45%, 60%, or even 70% of their body surface area affected, health officials indicated.