Several explosions in the Sahrawi city of Smara cause one death and three injuries

One person died and three more were injured in four explosions that occurred this morning in the town of Smara, in Western Sahara, according to local Moroccan authorities in that city.

In a statement, local authorities speak of "explosions" without indicating the cause of these deflagrations, and point out that two of the injured are in serious condition.

Local authorities reported that the two seriously injured received first aid at the city's health center, before being transferred to the hospital in El Aaiún, the capital of Western Sahara, 160 kilometers west of Smara.

The third person affected has minor injuries and was assisted at the scene, indicated local authorities, who detailed that an explosion occurred in the Zap neighborhood, another in Hay Essalam and two more in the industrial neighborhood of the town.

The same source adds that material damage was caused to two homes.

Neighbors of the Sahrawi city, located 80 kilometers north of the border between Western Sahara and Mauritania and 300 kilometers west of the border between the Sahara and Algeria, spread unverified videos on social networks that show what appears to be the impact of projectiles. on the floor of homes.

Moroccan official sources indicated to EFE that the Royal Armed Forces are investigating the event.

Members of the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) traveled to the scene of the incident to assess the situation.

Smara, ancient religious capital

Smara is the ancient religious capital and one of the most important cities of the former Spanish colony of Western Sahara, eighty percent controlled by Morocco and claimed by the Sahrawis of the Polisario Front.

In November 2020, the Polisario considered the ceasefire signed with Morocco in 1991 broken and declared a state of war.

Since then, incidents with projectiles and air attacks have been reported in the so-called "buffer zone" of Western Sahara, which covers several kilometers on both sides of this territory's border with Algeria and Mauritania.

However, Smara is not within that "buffer zone", but is located further into the territory of Western Sahara controlled by Morocco.