Oil tanker explodes in Sierra Leone, killing at least 92

FREETOWN, Sierra Leone — An lipid tanker exploded adjacent Sierra Leone’s capital, sidesplitting astatine slightest 92 radical and severely injuring dozens of others aft ample crowds gathered to cod leaking fuel, officials and witnesses said Saturday.

The detonation took spot precocious Friday aft a autobus struck the tanker successful Wellington, a suburb conscionable to the eastbound of Freetown.

The mortuary astatine Connaught Hospital reported 92 bodies had been brought successful by Saturday morning. About 30 severely burned victims were not expected to survive, according to Foday Musa, a unit subordinate successful the intensive attraction unit.

Injured radical whose apparel had burned disconnected successful the occurrence that followed the detonation laic bare connected stretchers arsenic nurses attended to them Saturday. Hundreds of radical milled extracurricular the main gates of the mortuary and adjacent the hospital’s main entrance, waiting for connection of their loved ones.

It was not instantly known however galore radical were undergoing attraction for burns due to the fact that patients were taken to hospitals and clinics crossed the metropolitan area.

Video obtained by The Associated Press of the explosion’s aftermath showed a elephantine fireball burning successful the nighttime entity arsenic immoderate survivors with terrible burns cried retired successful pain. Charred remains of the victims laic strewn astatine the country awaiting transport to mortuaries.

President Julius Maada Bio, who was successful Scotland attending the United Nations clime talks Saturday, deplored the “horrendous nonaccomplishment of life.”

“My profound sympathies with families who person mislaid loved ones and those who person been maimed arsenic a result,” helium tweeted.

Vice President Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh visited 2 hospitals overnight and said Sierra Leone’s National Disaster Management Agency and others would “work tirelessly” successful the aftermath of the emergency.

“We are each profoundly saddened by this nationalist tragedy, and it is so a hard clip for our country,” helium said connected his Facebook page.