A fuel tanker exploded in the midst of a crowd in Bahir Naam Payam about 20 km from Maridi town in Western Equatoria State on Wednesday evening, killing at least 60 people on the spot and wounding at least 80 more, local sources told Radio Tamazuj.
The truck coming from Juba to Yambio overturned and began leaking. Then people rushed to the scene to collect petrol from the leaking tanker. The tanker then exploded for unclear reasons.
The sources said 53 people have been taken to the Maridi Civil Hospital while another 38 people were taken to Olo Primary Health Clinic in Mambe Payam, some of whom passed away this morning due to burn wounds.
Local sources told Radio Tamazuj that over 60 people were burned dead on the spot at the scene including women and children.
Radio Miraya reported that he incident occurred twelve miles before Maridi, between Farouk Sika and Maridi, killing over 50 people and seriously injuring over 100. The station’s correspondent in the state also said that a military police car and some soldiers that went to the site were also reportedly burned.
Tragically, among the dead there were five brothers from the same family, according to a local source, citing the tearful sister of the men. “The truck carrying fuel overturned near our house and many residents were coming to collect the petrol,” the source said.
Authorities on the ground are yet to confirm what made the petrol tank explode and they have also not confirmed the exact number of those who died. But the Executive Director of Maridi County, John Skia, told Eye Radio that the number of dead was “more than 50 people.”
The medical director of the Maridi Civil Hospital Dr. Chandi Savior said that the hospital desperately needs more IV fluids, oxgyen cylinders, oxygen concentrators, anti-tetanus, and pain relievers. He said the pain relievers that they have “are not really able to calm down this pain” due to the severity of burns.
He also told Radio Tamazuj that he had been in contact with the state health minister this morning to discuss the ongoing medical needs and the minister reportedly agreed to dispatch aid to the hospital urgently.
Photo: An ambulance rushes to the scene of the accident