The Maridi County hospital is overwhelmed with burn victims after a petrol tanker explosion on Wednesday, according to eyewitnesses in Maridi. The tanker truck exploded after a crowd of people had converged around the vehicle and were trying to siphon out fuel. 

An eyewitness who visited the hospital yesterday evening told Radio Tamazuj, “The situation is not good. People are just dying. Those people are very many and there is no drugs that is enough for them.” 

The witness estimated that there are more than 100 wounded at the hospital, a significant increase since yesterday morning when sources estimated there were 53 people at Maridi Civil Hospital and 38 people at Olo Primary Health Clinic in Mambe Payam. Patients from the Olo clinic are being brought to the Maridi hospital.

“Some people are burned all the legs, some the hands, some the whole body, the back,” said the witness, describing the burn victims. “They look like a white person.”

Meanwhile, five medical personnel arrived in Maridi from Juba yesterday and the state minister of health arrived from Yambio. Layal Horanieh, spokeswoman for the International Committee of the Red Cross in Juba, told AP news agency that they sent two burn kits to Maridi, each with enough equipment to treat at least 50 patients.

The witness at the hospital told Radio Tamazuj there was a shortage of painkillers until Red Cross supplies arrived yesterday. The situation at the hospital was so bad that the state health minister was shocked when he arrived from Yambio yesterday, according to the witness.

Dr. Chandi Savior, the medical director at the hospital, told Radio Tamazuj before the arrival of the Red Cross supplies yesterday that the pain killers on hand were not strong enough to alleviate the severe pain affecting the victims. He also complained of a lack of IV fluids, oxgyen cylinders, oxygen concentrators, and anti-tetanus.

Meanwhile, grieving citizens in the county have begun burying their dead. Some of the victims were burned totally, however, while others were burned beyond recognition. In Mambe Payam, 65 people who cannot be identified were buried in a mass grave. Others who could be identified have been taken to their homes for preparation for burial.

The county commissioner yesterday said the number of dead was 176, a figures significantly higher than earlier official estimates. State Governor Patrick Raphael Zamoi cited the same figure in an interview with AP yesterday.

"People are still dying; they have not assessed the exact number in the hospital," Zamoi said.

A resident in Maridi said it is the worst tragedy that has ever happened in the county, Gurtong reported. “I believe the team will save the lives of those who are still alive otherwise this is the worst I have seen in my life but I ask my brothers and sisters to pray for their brothers who are in pain.”

Nurse Mary Kido said some wounds are easy to treat and urged family members to be calm as they wait for their loved ones to recover. On the other hand, the state health minister said some people need to be taken to a hospital in Juba.

Photos: Victims of the blast (above, via Twitter/Richard Ruati, below, Radio Tamazuj)

Related: 

Explosion of fuel tanker near Maridi kills dozens, wounds nearly 100 (17 Sept.)