The Liberian presidency reports that at least 40 people died in the explosion of a tanker truck on Tuesday, December 26, in the evening. In a town in the central part of the country, a vehicle overturned on the road, and residents attempted to siphon gasoline, leading to a devastating explosion.
It is a horrific scene that has been witnessed in many other countries. On Tuesday, a tanker truck was involved in an accident near the town of Totota in Bong County. The heavy-duty vehicle ultimately overturned on the road, and residents rushed to siphon off gasoline.
Witnesses described people climbing onto the truck, others with containers trying to collect fuel, and some even hitting the tank with iron bars to release more liquid.
However, the vehicle eventually exploded, engulfing dozens of people in flames. Several victims were so severely affected that their bodies were unrecognizable. Dozens of other injured individuals were transported to various hospitals in the region, with some in critical condition, raising concerns about an increasingly tragic toll in the coming days.
The outgoing Liberian president offered his sincere condolences, describing the images as deeply shocking. George Weah called on Liberians to show solidarity with the grieving families. He assured health authorities of his support in allocating additional resources to save as many lives as possible.