Few particulars can be found concerning the explosion, nevertheless it comes because the Caribbean is dealing with gas shortages and rising gasoline costs.
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti — A truck carrying gasoline overturned and exploded in a fireball in northern Haiti, engulfing vehicles and houses in flames because it killed greater than 50 individuals and injured dozens of others within the newest catastrophe to hit a rustic whose troubles deepened significantly this 12 months.
The explosion occurred late Monday within the coastal metropolis of Cap-Haitien as survivors rushed exterior and yelled as they noticed how the hearth consumed a part of their neighborhood. Hours later, a neighborhood hospital was overwhelmed with injured individuals because it pleaded for primary provides and extra medical workers.
Dozens of our bodies lay close to the explosion website as some individuals used buckets to scoop up gasoline from the truck and the road to take again to their properties, Dave Larose, a civil engineer who works in Cap-Haitien, advised The Related Press.
The explosion occurred as Haiti struggles with a extreme scarcity of gas and spiraling gasoline costs that just lately pressured hospitals to show away sufferers, briefly shut down gasoline stations, faculties and companies and prompted the federal government of U.S. and Canada to induce its residents to go away whereas they nonetheless may.
“It’s horrible what our nation has to undergo,” Larose mentioned.
Haiti continues to be making an attempt to get well from the July 7 presidential assassination and a 7.2 magnitude earthquake that struck in mid-August, killing greater than 2,200 individuals and destroying tens of hundreds of properties. The nation of greater than 11 million individuals additionally has been hit by a spike in gang-related kidnappings, together with 17 missionaries with a U.S. non secular group who had been kidnapped in mid-October. 5 of them have been launched however one other 12 are nonetheless being held.
Now, Haitians discover themselves mourning the victims of the explosion, which officers imagine occurred after the gasoline truck overturned after apparently making an attempt to keep away from hitting a motorbike, Patrick Almonor, deputy mayor of Cap-Haitien, advised The Related Press.
He mentioned no less than 53 deaths and greater than 100 injured have been reported following the explosion that burned round 20 properties close to the positioning. He mentioned he expects the variety of deaths to maintain rising as a result of individuals who died of their properties haven’t but been counted.
“It is horrible what occurred,” he mentioned. “We misplaced so many lives.”
Almonor mentioned a neighborhood hospital is in dire want of extra nurses, docs and primary medical provides to assist these injured.
“We’re overwhelmed,” an individual recognized as Dr. Calhil Turenne advised Le Nouvelliste newspaper.
Prime Minister Ariel Henry mentioned he was devastated and introduced that his administration was deploying discipline hospitals to the world to assist these affected.
“Three days of nationwide mourning shall be decreed all through the territory, in reminiscence of the victims of this tragedy that all the Haitian nation is grieving,” he tweeted.
Former Prime Minister Claude Joseph additionally mourned the victims, tweeting, “I share the ache and sorrow of all of the individuals.”
