A tragic incident occurred in Haiti recently where a fuel tanker explosion claimed at least 24 lives and left dozens more injured, with some of them having burns over 80% of their body.

According to the reports, the incident took place on Saturday near the commune of Miragoane, which is about 100 kilometers west of the Capital Port-au-Prince.

The tanker collided with another vehicle, due to which the fuel began leaking onto the road. When people rushed to collect the spilled fuel, the explosion took place. Following the incident, ambulances were sent quickly to assist those with severe burns and ease the overcrowded local hospitals.

Prime Minister of Haiti, Garry Conille visited the city and said, “It’s a horrible scene we’ve just witnessed”. He also arranged helicopter evacuations for those with severe injuries and ensured everything possible for the victim’s medical care.

As per Emmanuel Pierre, Head of Haiti’s civil protection agency, the initial death toll was 16, however, it was increased to 24 after additional bodies were discovered at the explosion site.

Meanwhile, it was reported that there were a lot of people at the site. Those were close caught in the incident and sustained injuries. Among those injured were mostly men, as well as three women and a child. While around 15 people got second-degree burns and are undergoing treatment. This incident is a stark reminder of the challenges Haiti is currently facing in terms of Violence and instability.

Haiti Fuel Tanker Explosion in 2021

While this is not the first time Haiti has witnessed such an incident. Back in 2021, A similar incident killed more than 60 lives in a tank explosion that took place in the city of Cap Haitian. The victims were trying to gather the fuel when the fire ignited at the incident. The incident left tons of people injured and left the medical centers overcrowded. Notably, there were 20 houses in the area had also been set on fire due to an explosion.

“We can’t treat the number of seriously burned people, I’m afraid we won’t be able to save them all,” a nurse at the medical center cited. Following the incident, Prime Minister Ariel Henry also traveled to the scene with a team of medical doctors and health workers to assist those who sustained damages.

He said the entire Caribbean nation was grieving after the incident and declared 3 days of mourning.

Haiti Faces Fuel Shortages

Additionally, this incident comes after Haiti experienced severe fuel shortages as powerful gangs seized control of much of the fuel distribution around the country. The situation has been exacerbated by gang blockades at fuel terminals, leading to widespread disruptions. This has affected essential services, including hospitals, schools, and transportation. The shortages have also led to a rise in prices and long lines at gas stations, causing major hardships for the population. The Government is struggling to address the issue, but the ongoing instability and violence make it a challenging situation.