A fuel tanker truck exploded in southwestern Haiti on Saturday, killing 24 people, authorities said, as witnesses reported the victims were trying to retrieve fuel that was leaking from the vehicle.
The explosion in Miragoâne left around forty people injured, some of whom suffered burns over most of their bodies, Emmanuel Pierre, director general of Haitian civil protection, told AFP.
The death toll rose from 16 earlier in the day after rescuers found more charred bodies near the blast site, Pierre said.
The injured were taken to Sainte Thérèse Hospital in the port city of Miragoane, about 60 miles west of the capital Port-au-Prince.
Six of them were then evacuated to specialized hospitals in Port-au-Prince.
Thirteen others, initially planned to be transferred, will remain in Miragoâne because burns on more than 80% of their bodies made their transport impossible.
Acting Prime Minister Garry Conille The government has called an emergency meeting to deal with the tragedy, Pierre said.
Haiti was in trouble by instability for years and its capital has been virtually taken over by criminal gangs.
Secretary of State Anthony Blinken made a rare visit on September 5, during which he pledged $45 million in aid and stressed the need for elections, which have not been held in Haiti since 2016.
Blinken also expressed concern about the long-term future of a Kenyan-led police force that arrived two months ago and is tasked with stabilizing Port-au-Prince and beyond.
