MONROVIA: As many as 40 people have been killed following the blast of a gas tanker in north-central Liberia, the country’s chief medical officer, Francis Kateh, confirmed on Wednesday.
As per Reuters, the fuel truck crashed late on Tuesday in Totota, Lower Bong County, and soon following exploded, killing and injuring many who had gathered to the spot. Authorities said that rescue and emergency officials rushed to the site after the explosion to help the wounded people.
40 Killed in Liberian Fuel Tanker Explosion: Official
Injured were immediately shifted to the nearby hospital for the medical treatment. Several wounded are still in hospital with serious burns, officials said. Authorities expressed feared that the death toll might increase as many injured are in critical conditions. Police said that more than 30 people have been wounded in the blast. It added that following the crash several locals started to collect the leaking gas when the fuel tanker exploded.
Weak infrastructure and Poor road safety have made Sub-Saharan Africa the globe’s deadliest part for crashes and road accident, with the fatality rate three times more than the European average, United Nations said.
