At least 53 killed as truck explodes

A TRUCK carrying petrol has exploded in northern Haiti, killing more than 50 people and injuring many others, officials said.

The blast occurred late on Monday in the city of Cap-Haitien, Prime Minister Ariel Henry said, adding that he was devastated.

“Three days of national mourning will be decreed throughout the territory, in memory of the victims of this tragedy that the entire Haitian nation is grieving,” Mr Henry tweeted.

He said his administration was deploying field hospitals to the area to help those affected.

Le Nouvelliste newspaper reported that dozens were taken to hospital.

“We are overwhelmed,” a hospital medic identified as Dr Calhil Turenne told the paper.

Patrick Almonor, deputy mayor of Cap-Haitien, told the Associated Press that at least 53 deaths and more than 100 injured had been reported after the explosion that burned around 20 homes near the site.

He said he expects the number of deaths to keep rising because people who died in their homes have not yet been counted.

He said: “It’s horrible what happened – we lost so many lives.”

Mr Almonor said a local hospital is in dire need of more nurses, doctors and basic medical supplies to help the injured.

Dave Larose, a civil engineer who works in Cap-Haitien, told the Associated Press that he was driving when he saw ambulances and a crowd of people gathered along a road at around 1am.

He said some people were using buckets to scoop up petrol from the truck and the street to take home.

The explosion occurred as Haiti struggles with a severe shortage of fuel and spiralling prices.

“It’s terrible what our country has to go through,” Mr Larose said.

Former prime minister Claude Joseph has also mourned the victims.