Two people died on Tuesday and 9 others were injured in the explosion of a defective boiler at a fishmeal factory in the port city of El Marsa (25 km south of Laâyoune), according to local authorities.

The incident, which took place around 9:00 am, was due to the explosion of a large defective boiler, which was used to generate steam in this factory, it was specified, adding that the blast caused 2 deaths and 6 injuries, two of them serious.

Three other people were also injured following the collapse of the boiler in an adjacent factory, caused by the powerful blast, the same source indicated.

The injured and the victims were evacuated to the Moulay Al Hassan Belmehdi hospital in Laâyoune.