Almost 100 people were killed and more than 200 others burnt to the third degree in an explosion which occurred Thursday at a waste-burning site in Benin's largest city and economic capital Cotonou, local media reported on Friday.

Local private television Canal 3 reported that the blast at the Tori-Avame landfill site, located 20 km north of the economic capital, had resulted from rotten flour which didn't burn off fully.

According to the source, this occurred as locals rushed and went down the ignition pit trying to retrieve sacks of spoiled wheat flour that were being incinerated.

The stock of spoiled wheat flour being destroyed was from the warehouse of Cotonou Port Customs.

It was discharged in a pit, sprinkled with petrol and then set on fire in the presence of police and gendarmerie officers under the supervision of a court bailiff and of a representative of the Customs.

As authorities and security forces left, local population went to the pit and tried to retrieve sacks of wheat flour when a sudden loud blast expanded the fire.

"All those who were down in the pit and around were charred by the fire", Canal 3 reported.

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