62 People Die In Tanker Explosion, Haitian PM Declares Three Days Of National Mourning

Explosion illustration. (Unsplash/Stephen Radford)

JAKARTA - At least 62 people were killed and dozens injured, after a tanker truck carrying gasoline exploded in Cap-Haitien, Haiti's second-largest city, on Monday, authorities said.

"The situation remains critical," said Deputy Mayor Patrick Almonor on Tuesday, who also made calls for blood donations.

Almonor said the fuel tanker exploded after stopping due to a mechanical problem and started spitting gas. Meanwhile, people gathered to collect fuel directly from the truck just before the explosion occurred.

Meanwhile, Haiti has previously been crippled by a severe fuel shortage that has led to power cuts and protests.

"We have almost 50 houses affected by the fires and most of them need to be demolished. The damage to the city is extensive," according to Almonor.

"The city will need a lot of help to get out of this tragedy, the central government is offering help but we are waiting to see. We believe we will need more than just the central government, the situation is critical," he added.

Local officials said rescue efforts were ongoing and the death toll was expected to rise. Haitian authorities say they have deployed two field hospitals to Cap Haitien.

At least six people have been flown from Cap-Haitien to a hospital specializing in severe burns in the capital Port-au-Prince, according to Doctors without Borders, which runs the hospital.

Separately, UNICEF will be sending medical equipment to hospitals in Cap-Haitien for the treatment of burn victims, according to a statement from spokeswoman Ndiaga Seck.

"UNICEF sympathizes with the pain of bereaved families and those whose members have been injured," Seck added in the statement.

In light of this situation, Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry has declared three days of national mourning after the explosion, "in memory of the victims of this tragedy that mourns the entire nation of Haiti."