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Seychelles: Office of the President launches December 7th Disaster Fund to respond to the effects of a massive explosion and flooding in Seychelles

On December 7, 2023, at approximately 2:00 a.m., as the people of Seychelles slept, weary from battling days and days, and hours and hours of continuous heavy rain and flooding, the population on the main island, Mahe, was rocked awake by a massive explosion at an industrial zone, southeast of the capital, Victoria, that destroyed buildings, severely damaged numerous homes, flattened trees and left a large crater. The Ministry of Health reported that the explosion caused mostly minor injuries to 178 people. No deaths were reported from the explosion, although there were reports of three storm-related deaths, and reports of homes and businesses damaged by landslides after the heavy rainfall, and severe damage to roads.

The double disaster prompted the President of the Republic of Seychelles, Mr. Wavel Ramkalawan, to announce a State of Emergency in Seychelles, on 7th December. President Ramkalawan is the current Vice President of the sixth session of the SIDS DOCK Assembly, and President-elect of the seventh session of the SIDS DOCK Assembly. The State of Emergency was lifted on the 8th December.

The two disasters mainly affected the northern and the eastern side of Mahe. Following the disasters caused by heavy rains, flooding, landslides, as well as the explosion, a special fund named the “7th December Disaster Fund” has been created for donors wishing to make financial contributions. Persons wishing to make a contribution can transfer their funds directly to the accounts by visiting the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Tourism, Foreign Affairs Department at: https://mfa.gov.sc/news/7th-december-disaster-fund-officially-launched/.