At least forty people have died due to the explosion of a gas tanker truck that occurred in the north-central part of Liberiaas reported by the Liberian Deputy Minister of Health Services, Francis Kateh.
The event took place last Tuesday night in the town of Tototawhere the tanker truck suffered an accident on a highway and citizens went to the scene to collect the gas coming out of the vehicle, which suddenly exploded.
Speaking to journalists this Wednesday, Kateh noted that the explosion caused at least forty deaths and 83 injuries, including a woman and three children between the ages of six and nine, local media reported last night.
The vice minister warned that the number of victims could increase.
Eyewitnesses confirmed that some people from the community were trying to get fuel from the truck when the explosion occurred.
“When the tanker truck fell, many people came from all over the city. Some just watched the gas spill, but others brought containers and collected the gas“, declared an unidentified witness to the local newspaper Daily Observer.
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“So in a short time the tanker truck caught fire and many people started running helter-skelter. Many people could not escape the explosion”added that source.
The outgoing president of Liberia, George Weahregretted the incident today in a statement, and expressed its “Deepest condolences to the families of those who lost their lives”.
Likewise, he asked the country to collaborate with the affected families, the Liberian Red Cross and government institutions to “help with efforts” treatment of the wounded.
