An explosion in Central Liberia, Totota Bong County, is believed to have killed at least 15 people. Tuesday’s fatal accident occurred when residents went to get gas after a speeding truck heading from Monrovia slipped off the road and fell.
The speeding tanker truck fell into a drainage along the road adjacent to the Upper Room Ministry, a local church in Totota, Bong County.
The Deputy Inspector General for Operation of Liberia’s National Police (LNP), Malvin Sackor, described the incident as a “self-accident”. According to DIG Sackor, several people have been admitted to local hospitals and health facilities. He stated that the Chief of Safety for the Liberian Police is currently determining the actual number of casualties.
“What happened was that a tanker carrying gas fell and locals in the area started taking the gas,” he told EyeWitnessNews Liberia’s Bereau Chief Evelyn Kpadeh Seagbeh about the incident. “In the process of doing so, the tanker exploded, resulting in several deaths, as well as some injuries. We are still putting together the numbers, but we have learned that over 30 people have been injured,” he said.
Aaron Massaquio, an EyeWitness present at the scene, told EWN Evelyn that “people climbed all over the truck taking gas, while others hit the tanker with irons to allow it to burst.”
Massaquio continued that “people were all around the truck and the driver told them that the gas spilling could be taken but warned them not to climb on top of the tanker or to hit it. They overpowered him and some people were even using screwdrivers to put holes in the tank.”
Aaron said that when the tanker burst into flames, people on its top were burned beyond recognition. He described the incident as a very sad time for their community, especially during the festive season and just after the celebration of Christmas.
During the explosion, Aaron Massaquio confirmed that a pregnant woman who had gone to pick up her children died as well.
The Bong County Health Officer, Dr. Cynthia Blapooh, told Front Page Africa, a Liberian newspaper that there are still 36 people in critical condition, including children and a pregnant woman.
There have been deadly fuel explosions in the Mano River Union countries, which include Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Cote d’ivoire. The main Guinean depot, which is located in the commercial district of Kaloum, Conakry, exploded last week, killing 14 people and leaving over 190 injured. In November 2021, an oil tanker explosion left over 90 people dead and many others injured in Wellington, east of Sierra Leone’s capital Freetown.
Some commentators have argued that little has been done by the authorities to educate the people on fire prevention in the region.
By: Evelyn Kpadeh Seagbeh, EyeWitnessNews Liberia Bereau Chief
Video credit: The Country Side YouTube page
