Disasters & Accidents

At least 98 killed in Sierra Leone fuel truck explosion

Freetown, Nov 6 (EFE).- A fuel truck explosion in Sierra Leone’s capital Freetown killed at least 98 people, rescue services told Efe Saturday.

The death toll is likely to increase as many of the injured are in critical condition, Mohamed Lamrane Bah, Communications Director of the Sierra Leone Disaster Management Agency, said.

Mohamed Kamara, an eyewitness, told Efe that the accident occurred at around 8:00 GMT last night, when the tanker went to supply fuel to a service station.

“Suddenly a trailer hit the tanker,” he said, adding that many people approached the site in a bid to collect the spilled fuel, before it exploded.

“The tanker driver told them to drive away. The driver ran to save his life; all the motorcyclists who were near the place died,” he added.

“I am deeply saddened to hear about an explosion (…), after a bowser carrying fuel collided with another truck,” Freetown’s mayor Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr posted on Facebook.

“The video and photo footage making rounds on social media are harrowing. There are unconfirmed rumors that more than 100 people have lost their lives. The extent of damage to property is unknown,” she added. EFE

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