Comprehensive Reuters and the BBC reported that an oil tanker in Cape Haiti, Haiti, the second largest city, exploded on Monday night local time, killing at least 60 people. Many locals were trying to collect leaked oil while the explosion. One witness called the explosion scene like "hell".
The body was covered with white cloth Photo source: Reuters
Does of people were injured in the explosion, and local medical staff said they were worried that the death toll would rise. "We don't have the ability to treat so many people who have severe burned ," a nurse from a local hospital told AFP . "I'm afraid we can't save everyone."
Cape Haiti Mayor Yvrose Pierre said: "We need human resources, and we also need material resources, namely serum, gauze and anything that can be used for severe burns."
Explosion site Source: Visual China
On Tuesday, hundreds of people went to the explosion site to search for relatives in destroyed houses, and others tried to remove the charred wreck of trucks and sold them as scrap iron. The explosion destroyed nearby houses and shops, motorcycles and cars.
A local resident said the tanker was overturned while trying to avoid rolling over a motorcycle. According to reports, when the explosion occurred, many locals were flocking to the tanker , trying to collect the leaked oil. In recent months, severe fuel shortages have made many Haitians desperately ensure gasoline supply.
Explosion scene Source: Visual China
Haiti Prime Minister Ariel Henry visited Justinian University Hospital on Tuesday, where most of the victims were being treated. "We feel sad that so many people were injured and so many people died," Henry said in a press conference, announcing a three-day national mourning.
Since October last year, a group of criminal gangs blocked the fuel terminal for nearly a month, resulting in a widespread shortage of gasoline and diesel, and many businesses were forced to close. The gangs lifted the docks last month, but many Haitians say they are still trying to search for fuel. The Haitian government announced last week that fuel prices would be raised due to the costs of existing subsidies.
After the assassination of then-Haitian President Moyz earlier this year, the country is in a serious economic and political crisis. In August, Haiti also suffered a devastating earthquake that killed more than 2,000 people and destroyed a large number of houses on the country's southern peninsula.
(Editor: ZLQ)
