More than 40 people have died following the explosion of a gas tanker in Liberia, as confirmed by Francis Kateh, Liberia's chief medical officer. Liberia is a country on the West African coast.
Reports indicate that the fuel truck overturned in Totota, drawing a crowd of onlookers. Shortly after the crash, the tanker erupted in flames, causing casualties and injuries among those present.
Dozens of individuals are currently hospitalised with severe burns, and the death toll is expected to climb, warned Kateh during a press briefing. The exact cause of the crash remains unclear as authorities initiate investigations.
Liberia's President George Weah has expressed his condolences to the families of the dead, saying he found images of the tragedy "deeply disturbing", his office says.
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President has given the health authorities his "full backing to beef up manpower and equipment where necessary in their frantic effort to save lives", the statement adds.
