At Least 80 Killed in Fuel Tanker Explosion in Sierra Leone
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A horrific explosion hits Sierra Leone's capital Freetown as a result of a collision between a fuel tanker and a truck, killing at least 80 people.
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At least 80 people were killed in an explosion at a fuel depot, a rescuer worker said
The mayor of Sierra Leone's capital and local media announced that a fuel tanker exploded on Friday after colliding with a truck. The incident resulted in large casualties, the exact number of which is not yet known.
Pictures posted on social media platforms showed a number of victims lying in the streets of the capital, Freetown, with severe burns. Nearby houses and stores also caught fire.
— Dr. Abubakarr Jalloh (@jalloh711) November 6, 2021
Pictures from fire incident at Wellington. #SierraLeone pic.twitter.com/dXwwQuHyKI
— SIERRAEYESALONE (@sierraeyesalone) November 5, 2021
Tanker explosion kills hundreds at a gas station on Friday night in Wellington a surbub in #Freetown according to Disaster Management Agency rescue efforts underway @AFP pic.twitter.com/YjDpafGGe1
— Mohamed Saidu Bah (@MohamedSaiduBah) November 6, 2021
Freetown Mayor Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr described circulated footage as "harrowing" and pointed out that unconfirmed information indicated the death of 100 people, while "the extent of damage to property is unknown."
On Facebook, the mayor posted that "the Metropolitan Police and Deputy Mayor are at the scene, supporting the National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA), who is leading response."
At least 80 people were killed in an explosion at a fuel depot, a rescuer worker said Saturday.
"We recovered 80 bodies from the site of the accident last night with our ambulances," a Red Cross rescue worker told AFP, adding that rescue operations were still ongoing on Saturday morning.
