Disaster! 40 people killed, others injured in Liberia’s oil truck explosion
No fewer than 40 people have died following the explosion of a gas tanker in north-central Liberia.
Liberia’s chief medical officer, Francis Kateh confirmed the death toll to newsmen.
In a video posted online, people were seen scooping fuel from the truck after it crashed late on Tuesday in Totota, Lower Bong County.
The truck later exploded, killing and injuring many who had flocked to the scene to retrieve the fuel it was carrying before it fell off the road.
An eyewitness told the Daily Observer that “When the tanker fell, many people came from all over the town. Some were only looking as the gas was spilling, but others brought containers and were collecting the gas.”
“So in no time, the tanker caught fire as many people began running helter-skelter. Many people could not escape the blast.”
Dozens of people are still in hospital with serious burns, and the death toll could rise beyond 40, the medical official said.
Patients with more severe injuries are being transferred to various hospitals in Monrovia, including the JFK Medical Center, 14-Military Hospital, St. Joseph’s Catholic Hospital, and ELWA Hospital.
Poor road safety and weak infrastructure have made Sub-Saharan Africa the world’s deadliest region for crashes coupled with reckless oil tanker drivers.
While Liberians mourn the victims of this latest accident, efforts to put safety measures in place must be intensified to prevent a repeat of this mass disaster.
