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Haiti confirms 24 eliminated in 'horrible' gas truck blast

AUPRINCE, Sept 14 (Reuters) A fuel truck surge on a road in Haiti's southern peninsula on Saturday eliminated 24 individuals and left half of the 40 injured survivors with thirddegree burns, the federal government said.

Haiti Prime Minister Garry Conille went to the website, near the coastal city of Miragoane in the department of Nippes, and said a few of the most seriously injured victims were evacuated by helicopter to receive specific care.

Ambulances were also being sent as rapidly as possible to attend to others with severe burns and to alleviate overcrowded regional healthcare facilities.

It's a horrible scene we've just lived through. Numerous dozens of victims, wounded, seriously burned, Conille said in a video distributed by the federal government.

The hurt were mainly men, in addition to three women and a. kid, according to a report from Haiti's emergency services,. which did not give any details about the identities of the dead.

Another 15 individuals continual second-degree burns, the report. stated.

A witness to the occurrence said the truck's gas tank had been. pierced by another vehicle, and people had rushed to the website. to collect fuel.

There were a lot of individuals. Those who were close to the. truck got pulverized, the male, who did not provide his name, said. in a video interview with regional outlet Echo Haiti Media.

A comparable occurrence in 2021 in the city of Cap-Haitien killed. at least 60 people, after individuals were likewise thought to have actually been. attempting to take fuel from a tanker truck.

Fuel deliveries to the Miragoane location have slowed in current. weeks as trucks were transported by means of ferryboat to prevent. gang-controlled highways surrounding the capital of. Port-au-Prince.

The spread of gangs in the capital and surrounding locations has. fueled a humanitarian crisis with mass displacements, sexual. violence, kid recruitment and widespread hunger. A state of. emergency situation is now in place nationwide.

Haiti's civil protection agency reported the identities of a. 31-year-old male and 2 23-year-old guys who suffered burns over. 89% of their bodies, and were being treated in a healthcare facility in Les. Cayes, in southern Haiti.

(source: Reuters)