At least 50 people have died after a tanker explosion early Tuesday in Cap-Haitien, Haiti, which also left many injured, according to a provisional toll provided by a local official.
“I observed on the spot between 50 and 54 people burned alive. It is impossible to identify them, ”said the deputy mayor of Cap-Haitien, Patrick Almonor.
“Twenty” houses in the area also caught fire following the explosion, according to Mr. Almonor, raising fears of a heavier toll.
“We are not yet able to give details on the number of victims inside the houses,” he said.
This poor Caribbean country is in the grip of a severe fuel shortage, due to gang stranglehold on part of the fueling circuit.
This arouses strong discontent among the population and Haiti was also the scene on Monday of demonstrations against the increase in gasoline prices.
Justinian Hospital, where many injured have been transported, is overwhelmed by the influx of injured, many of whom are in critical condition.
“We do not have the means to take care of the many seriously burned people,” a hospital nurse told AFP. “I’m afraid we won’t be able to save them all.”
Port located on the northern coast of Haiti, Cap-Haitien is the second largest city in the country.
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