The death toll in the tanker truck explosion that happened in Liberia have risen to more than 40 people killed in the explosion, Liberian authorities said Thursday.
Recall that a leaking
tanker truck had earlier this week exploded as people gathered to collect gasoline.
According to health authorities, Tuesday’s explosion also injured at least 83 people in the town of Totota in the central West African country.
Many of the dead were buried in a mass grave on Wednesday because their remains were unrecognizable, said Dr. Cynthia Blapook, a health official in Bong County.
Health authorities said it was difficult to confirm the exact number of deaths due to the burned state of the bodies.
Liberia’s Vice President, Jewel Howard-Taylor, attended the mass funeral. “We didn’t expect to start the year this way,” Mr Howard-Taylor said.
Health officials said the number of injured could rise because they are not sure everyone has been transported to receive treatment.
A doctor at a hospital treating the injured urged the Liberian government to deploy a disaster management team and have one in every county to respond to emergencies.
Dr. Minnie Sankawolo-Rocks also appealed to the public to stay away from fuel trucks in the hope of getting much-needed gasoline. Similar fatal accidents have occurred elsewhere in Africa.
“Please, I beg you,” she said. Ms Sankawolo-Rocks said people did not listen to police instructions to move away before the tanker exploded.
