A fuel truck explosion in Haiti's southern peninsula on Saturday has left 24 people dead and half of the 40 injured survivors with third-degree burns, according to the government. Haitian Prime Minister Garry Conille has visited the site and arranged helicopter evacuations for the most seriously injured victims.
The tragedy occurred on a road near the coastal city of Miragoane in the department of Nippes. According to Prime Minister Conille, the scene was horrific, with dozens of victims suffering severe burns. The injured were primarily men, along with three women and a child.
Haiti's emergency services reported that 15 additional individuals sustained second-degree burns. A witness to the disaster stated that the truck's gas tank had been punctured by another vehicle, prompting people to rush to collect fuel.
Fuel Truck Explosion in Haiti Kills 24, Injures 40 with Third-Degree Burns
Similar incidents have occurred in the past. In 2021, an explosion in the city of Cap-Haitien claimed the lives of at least 60 people who were attempting to obtain fuel from a tanker truck.
Fuel deliveries to the Miragoane area have been disrupted in recent weeks due to the transportation of trucks via ferry to circumvent gang-controlled highways surrounding the capital of Port-au-Prince.
Fuel Truck Explosion in Haiti Kills 24, Injures 40 with Third-Degree Burns
The spread of gangs in the capital and surrounding areas has created a humanitarian crisis, leading to mass displacements, sexual violence, child recruitment, and widespread hunger. Consequently, a state of emergency has been declared nationwide.
The Haitian civil protection agency has released the identities of three individuals who suffered severe burns: a 31-year-old man and two 23-year-old men, all of whom were being treated in a hospital in Les Cayes, southern Haiti.
The explosion highlights the ongoing challenges faced by Haiti, which continues to grapple with poverty, political instability, and gang violence. The government and humanitarian organizations are working to assist the victims and address the underlying issues contributing to such tragedies.
