At least 60 people have been killed and dozens more injured after a truck carrying fuel exploded in the northern Haitian city of Cap-Haitien, a local official said, as authorities are calling for additional supplies and staff to help treat the victims.
The explosion occurred late on Monday in Haiti’s second-largest city, on the country’s northern coast, where survivors rushed outside and yelled as they observed how the fire consumed part of their neighbourhood.
Hours later, a local hospital was overwhelmed with injured people as it pleaded for basic supplies and more medical staff.
“We have now counted 60 deaths,” Deputy Mayor Patrick Almonor said on Tuesday, adding that authorities were still searching for victims amid the charred debris.
According to Almonor, it appeared the truck driver lost control as it swerved to avoid a motorcycle taxi and the tanker flipped over. He said fuel spilled onto the road and pedestrians rushed to collect it.
More than 100 people were reported injured in the explosion that also burned about 20 homes near the site, Almonor said, adding that the number of deaths is expected to keep rising because people who died in their homes have not yet been counted.
The incident occurred as Haiti is struggling with widespread fuel shortages and spiralling gas prices, caused in part by armed gangs that have set up blockades at fuel terminals in the capital, Port-au-Prince and surrounding areas .
