Several survivors and families of victims of the oil tanker explosion in Maridi County of South Sudan’s Western Equatoria State narrated further details about the incident and how the fuel tanker exploded, killing nearly 200 people and wounding dozens.
One mother told Radio Tamazuj that she lost three of her children and the other child was injured.
“I was at home when the fuel tanker overturned near their area,” she recalled. The mother further said her four children rushed to the scene take gasoline along with other local residents.
The grieving mother pointed out that the fuel tanker exploded when her four children were taking gasoline. She suggested that the blast was due to shooting by an unknown armed man. On the other hand, another survivor said he did not think soldiers were responsible for the incident because several also died in the blaze.
Meanwhile, Osman Rajab, a survivor accompanying an injured nephew, said that the explosion took place after the fuel tanker overturned while residents were gathering to siphon gasoline. However, he didn’t disclose the reasons for the incident.
Another woman said her husband was injured in the incident. She added that her husband was not sure whether the explosion was caused by shooting or not.
She said others including the injured people confirmed the presence of armed forces at the scene to disperse the residents who gathered near the oil tanker.
For his part, Vice-President of South Sudan James Wani Igga sent a condolence message to the families of the victims.
This came during a visit of government delegation including ministers and members of parliament to wounded people at Juba Teaching Hospital on Saturday.