PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti – A gas truck overturned and exploded in a fireball to the north Haitian, engulfed cars and homes in flames as it killed more than 50 people and injured dozens more in the latest disaster to hit a country whose troubles have grown worse this year.
The explosion happened late Monday in the coastal city of Cap-Haitien as survivors ran outside and screamed as they watched how flames burned through parts of their neighborhood. Hours later, a local hospital was flooded with the injured as they begged for basic supplies and more medical staff.
Dave Larose, a civil engineer with Cap-Haitien, told The Associated Press that dozens of bodies were lying near the site of the explosion as some people scooped up gasoline from trucks and the streets with buckets to take them home.
The explosion occurred as Haiti was grappling with severe fuel shortages and soaring gas prices that forced hospitals to turn away patients, temporarily close gas stations, schools and businesses. while prompting the US and Canadian governments to urge their citizens to leave while they still can.
“It’s terrible what our country has to go through,” Larose said.
Haiti is still trying to recover from 7/7 Presidential assassination and magnitude 7.2 earthquake occurred in mid-August, killing more than 2,200 people and destroying tens of thousands of homes. The country of more than 11 million people is also affected by the increase in gang involvement kidnap, including 17 missionaries with a US religious organization were kidnapped in mid-October. Five of them have been released, but 12 are still in custody.
Patrick Almonor, deputy mayor of Cap-Haitien, told The Associated Press that Haitians now find themselves mourning the victims of the explosion, which officials believe occurred after the gas truck overturned after trying to avoid hitting a motorcycle.
He said at least 53 deaths and more than 100 injuries were reported after the explosion destroyed about 20 homes near the site. He said he expected the death toll to continue to rise because those who died in their homes had yet to be counted.
“It’s horrible what happened,” he said. “We’ve lost a lot of lives.”
Almonor said a local hospital is in dire need of more nurses, doctors and basic medical supplies to help the injured.
“We are overwhelmed,” one person identified as Dr Calhil Turenne told Le Nouvelliste newspaper.
Prime Minister Ariel Henry said he was devastated and announced that his administration was deploying makeshift hospitals to the area to help those affected.
“Three days of national mourning will be declared throughout the territory, in memory of the victims of this tragedy that the whole of Haiti is grieving,” he wrote on Twitter.
Former Prime Minister Claude Joseph also expressed his condolences for the victims, tweeting: “I share the pain and sadness of all the people.”
