A gasoline tanker overturned and exploded in Haiti, unleashing a fireball that swept through the northern port city of Cap-Haitien resulted in the deaths of at least 60 people, a health ministry official said on Tuesday.
Dr. Laure Adrien confirmed the death toll had risen after Cap-Haitien Deputy Mayor Patrick Almonor said earlier: "I saw on the scene between 50 and 54 people burned alive," adding that it was impossible to identify them.
According to Almonor, the fuel tanker appeared to have lost control and flipped over, causing fuel to spill onto the road. Reports suggested it was trying to avoid a motorcycle when it turned over.
People soon gathered to try and collect the spilled fuel. Soon after the truck exploded, setting fire to around 20 houses nearby.
Police officials have yet to confirm the numbers of those killed and injured.
Prime minister says 'nation is grieving'
Prime Minister Ariel Henry spoke of his devastation on Twitter, and said the nation was grieving. "Three days of national mourning will be decreed throughout the territory, in memory of the victims of this tragedy that the entire Haitian nation is grieving," Henry said on Twitter.
Henry also said field hospitals would be deployed to help those affected by the blast.
Cap Haitien Mayor Pierre Yvrose told Reuters news agency that the local hospital was struggling.
"We need human resources, and also material resources, namely, serum, gauze, and anything that can be used in case of serious burns," Yvrose said.
The UN mission to Haiti offered its condolences to the families of those killed and said it was ready to respond.
Haiti battling a severe fuel shortage
The country is in the grip of a fuel shortage and there have been protests over rising fuel prices in recent days.
Criminal gangs have worked the situation and have been hijacking fuel trucks while demanding ransom payments for the release of drivers. They have managed to grow in power since the assassination of President Jovenel Moise in July.
Gangs have also barricaded roads and hampered fuel deliveries.
Coupled with high levels of criminality, the Caribbean nation is battling high levels of poverty. According to UN figures, around 40% of the country's 11 million inhabitants require humanitarian aid.
