At least 20 dead, hundreds hurt after explosions rock military barracks in Equatorial Guinea

The ministry tweeted that its health workers are treating the injured at the site of the tragedy and in medical facilities, but it feared people were still missing under the rubble.

A radio station, Radio Macuto, said on Twitter that people were being evacuated within four kilometres of the city because the fumes might be harmful.

"The impact of the explosion caused damage in almost all the houses and buildings in Bata," the president said in the statement, which was in Spanish.