Death toll in Haiti tanker explosion rises to more than 50

Record ID: 1651036

  • Title: Death toll in Haiti tanker explosion rises to more than 50
  • Date: 14th December 2021
  • Summary: BODIES ON THE STREET / BURNED OUT FUEL TRUCK, OTHER WRECKED VEHICLES, AND BURNED BUILDING
  • Embargoed: 28th December 2021 16:04
  • Keywords: Cap-Haitien Explosion Haiti gas truck
  • Location: CAP-HAITIEN, HAITI
  • City: CAP-HAITIEN, HAITI
  • Country: Haiti
  • Topics: Disaster/Accidents,South America / Central America
  • Reuters ID: LVA004F80FHVR
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: EDITORS PLEASE NOTE: THIS EDIT CONTAINS GRAPHIC IMAGES - QUALITY AS INCOMING
    At least 50 people were killed when a fuel truck exploded in a street in Haiti's second-largest city Cap-Haitien during the night, the city mayor said on Tuesday (December 14).
    The local hospital was stretched trying to treat the many injured, Mayor Pierre Yvrose told Reuters. According to the mayor, the hospital needs human resources as well as medical supplies.
    "Unfortunately many people died, we couldn't save them. I want to congratulate the firefighters and the civil protection teams because they put their lives at risk to control the fire and therefore prevented any further deaths," said Mayor Pierre Yvrose, who added the local hospital was struggling to cope with treating the injured.
    The total number of injured was not yet known.
    The truck carrying gasoline overturned around midnight in the area of Samari on the eastern end of Cap-Haitien, according to local media.
    Fuel deliveries across Haiti only resumed last month after a blockade by gangs who for nearly a month prevented trucks from loading at the main fuel ports. Many businesses were forced to shut down.
    As rescue workers cleaned up in the aftermath of the explosion, bodies covered in white sheets lay on the ground before they were loaded onto trucks to be taken away.
    The blast also damaged the fronts of houses and shops in the street and charred motorbikes and cars, Reuters journalists said.
    The government declared three days of mourning for the dead.
    The United Nations office in Haiti said it stood ready to help the national authorities in its response and offered its condolences to the families of the victims.
    Gangs have grown more powerful since the July assassination of President Jovenel Moise, which created a political vacuum and allowed criminal groups to expand their territory.
    (Production: Robenson Sanon, Nina Lopez)
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2021. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: WARNING: Editors please note, this clip contains graphic material
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