“The death toll is increasing. We now have 60 deaths. Investigations continue,” said Patrick Almonor, deputy mayor of Cap-Haitien, the second largest city in the country.
The Prime Minister of Haiti, Ariel Henry, announced on Twitter three days of national mourning “in memory of the victims of this tragedy that mourns the entire Nation.”
“A score” of homes in the surroundings also caught fire after the explosion, according to Almonor, which suggests a higher toll of victims. “We are not yet able to give details about the number of victims inside the houses,” he added.
The vice mayor of the city explained to local media that a hundred people were trying to loot the truck at the time of the explosion, after the vehicle crashed in the central neighborhood of Pont Grand Bois et Samarie after midnight.
Haiti, the poorest country in Latin America, faces a severe fuel shortage as gangs monopolize part of the supply network.
The Justinien hospital, where many victims of the explosion were transferred, is overflowing with the flow of wounded, many of them in critical condition.
“People have burns in more than 60% of the body surface,” said Dr. Calhil Turenne, who counted 40 seriously injured and two deceased in the hospital.
Faced with the emergency, the Prime Minister of Haiti also announced the deployment of field hospitals “to provide the necessary care to the victims of this terrible explosion.”
In the last weeks more than one dozen fuel transport vehicles were hijacked by gangs that demanded heavy ransoms for the release of the drivers.
This arouses strong discontent among the population of Haiti, which was also the scene of demonstrations on Monday against rising gasoline prices.
Since October, the telecommunications networks and the media have drastically reduced their activities throughout the country, unable to find fuel for the thermal generators that supply electricity to the antennas.
But in addition, this energy crisis is also hampering the operation of the few hospital structures in the country.
Source From: Ambito
David William is a talented author who has made a name for himself in the world of writing. He is a professional author who writes on a wide range of topics, from general interest to opinion news. David is currently working as a writer at 24 hours worlds where he brings his unique perspective and in-depth research to his articles, making them both informative and engaging.
