Over 40 people are feared dead following a horrific explosion caused by a tanker truck carrying gasoline in a devastating incident in central Liberia.
The incident occurred when the tanker crashed and overturned into a ditch along a road in Totota, approximately 130 kilometers (80 miles) from the capital, Monrovia.
Chief Medical Officer Dr. Francis Kateh expressed the challenges in accurately determining the number of casualties due to the severity of the explosion.
He disclosed to local broadcaster Super Bongese TV, “We have our team going from home to home to check those that are missing.”
Kateh estimated that more than 40 people lost their lives in the incident.
Initially, the police reported 15 fatalities, with at least 30 individuals sustaining injuries as locals gathered at the accident site.
Prince B. Mulbah, Deputy Inspector General for the Liberia National Police, shared, “There were lots of people that got burned.”
Another police officer, Malvin Sackor, revealed that some locals had started collecting the leaking gas when the tanker suddenly exploded, causing fatalities and injuries.
The police are actively engaged in collecting data to ascertain the total number of casualties.
Eyewitness Aaron Massaquoi, a resident of Totota, recounted the chaotic scene, stating, “People climbed all on top of the truck taking the gas, while some of them had irons hitting the tanker for it to burst for them to get gas.”
Massaquoi mentioned that despite warnings from the truck driver, individuals continued risky behaviors, leading to the tragic explosion.
