99 die, many injured in explosion while scooping fuel from accidented tanker
No fewer than 99 persons were killed siphoning fuel from a tanker truck that collided with a lorry in the West African country of Sierra Leone.
The accident occurred on Friday evening in a busy street in the capital of Freetown.
According to witnesses, many people rushed to the tanker to siphon off petrol after the collision with containers. Shortly afterwards, the truck exploded.
Some surrounding shops and cars caught fire, they said.
Staff at a hospital near the accident site confirmed on Saturday that rescue workers had brought in 80 bodies during the night.
The local television station AYV spoke of 400 victims on Saturday morning.
President Julius Maada Bio is expected in Freetown shortly, a government spokesperson said.
He was attending the COP26 UN Climate Change Conference in Glasgow.
Due to the “tragic accident,” Mr Bio had cancelled a planned trip to a meeting of the West African Economic Community ECOWAS in Ghana.
We have recently deactivated our website's comment provider in favour of other channels of distribution and commentary. We encourage you to join the conversation on our stories via our Facebook, Twitter and other social media pages.
More from Peoples Gazette
Politics
Katsina youths pledge to deliver over 2 million votes to Atiku
“Katsina State is Atiku’s political base because it is his second home.”
NationWide
Tinubu congratulates information, interior ministers on birthdays
The President said the minister has brought finesse and immense experience to his role as Nigeria’s image maker.
States
Zamfara govt. to deal with workers receiving multiple salaries
He advised them to support the present administration in its determination to sanitise the state civil service.
States
Anambra labour unions call for establishment of civil, judicial service commissions for workers’ rights
They also called for the appointment of a special adviser on labour matters in the state.
Economy
Frequent changes in customs duty exchange rate bad for business: CPPE
“It is extremely difficult for investors to plan under these unstable circumstances.”
States
756 schools to compete in Anambra sports festival
He said the festival, which would be held between May 2 and June 7, would be bigger and better than the 2023 edition.
Heading 4
Turkey to join South Africa’s genocide lawsuit against Israel
Mr Erdoğan also accused Israel of committing “genocide.”
