No fewer than 15 people were killed when a tanker exploded after crashing in central Liberia, the police said on Tuesday.
The truck carrying gasoline overturned and tumbled into a ditch along a road in Totota, Bong County, with at least 30 more people hurt in the explosion as villagers gathered at the scene, according to authorities.
“There were lots of people who got burned. For now, we hold the number of deaths at 15,” said Prince B. Mulbah, deputy inspector general for the Liberia National Police.
Malvin Sackor, another police officer, stated that following the crash, some villagers began to take the gas when the tanker burst, killing some and injuring others.
He stated that the overall number of injured and dead victims was still being tallied by the police.
According to an eyewitness, Aaron Massaquoi, “people climbed on top of the truck, taking the gas, while some of them had irons hitting the tanker for it to burst for them to get gas.
“People were all around the truck, and the driver of the truck told them that the gas that was spilling could be taken.
“He told them not to climb on top of the tanker and that they should stop hitting the tanker, but some people were even using screwdrivers to put holes in the tank.”
Cynthia Blapooh, a health officer in Bong County, told reporters that there were 36 extremely ill people, including children and a pregnant lady.
