Additional Coverage:
- At least 15 dead, 40 injured in Haiti gasoline tanker explosion (newsbreak.com)
On September 14, a gasoline tanker explosion in Haiti tragically claimed the lives of at least 15 individuals and left 40 others with severe burns, according to the country’s Prime Minister.
A photo from sandid/Pixabay showing the devastating aftermath confirms that the explosion happened on Saturday. The injured victims have started receiving medical attention; 16 of the critically hurt were transported to hospitals in Fonds des Blancs and Les Cayes, as stated by Prime Minister Garry Conille on the social media platform X.
Conille announced an emergency airborne evacuation plan is in the works, coordinated by his office and the national health authority, along with Médecins Sans Frontières and the World Health Organization. The goal is to swiftly move the injured to Port-au-Prince, the capital.
Early reports suggest that the explosion took place in an area known as Morne Calbassier in Miragoane. Witnesses recounted that the accident began when the gasoline tank was punctured after a collision with a broken-down vehicle.
Local residents, attempting to collect the leaking fuel, disregarded the driver’s warnings to stay away. Consequently, the tanker exploded, causing numerous fatalities.
The explosion also burned up to 20 motorcycles and cars, officials reported.
Read More About This Story:
- At least 15 dead, 40 injured in Haiti gasoline tanker explosion (newsbreak.com)