CAP-HAITIEN (Haiti), Dec 16 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A massive gas truck explosion killed at least 62 people in Haiti on Tuesday, after bystanders swarmed the vehicle to collect spilled fuel — a precious commodity in a nation plagued
by acute shortages.
The blast in Haiti’s second city of Cap-Haitien is the latest disaster to hit the poverty-wracked Caribbean nation, riven by gang violence and political paralysis.
Prime Minister Ariel Henry visited the scene of the tragedy, saying his heart was “broken” after meeting some of the dozens of injured in a local hospital. He later tweeted that emergency funds had been released to help deal with the tragedy.
“We have now counted 62 deaths,” Deputy Mayor Patrick Almonor said, adding that authorities were still searching for victims in nearby buildings.
Almonor described a horrific scene, saying he had seen dozens of people “burned alive” and that it was “impossible to identify them.”
The truck is believed to have flipped over after the driver lost control while swerving to avoid a motorcycle taxi.
Almonor said around 40 houses in the area were also damaged, but that no details were yet available on the possible victims inside.
The Justinien University Hospital was overwhelmed with patients wounded in the blast. After visiting the hospital, Henry said: “With a broken heart, I saw the critical condition of some of our compatriots.”
The prime minister flew in accompanied by extra health workers, and said in a tweet he had expressed “solidarity with the grieving families.”
He earlier promised field hospitals would be rapidly deployed to help care for the blast victims.
Henry — who has led the country since July after president Jovenel Moise was assassinated in a still mysterious plot — declared a period of national mourning following the explosion. — NNN-AGENCIES
