Liberia’s first female Vice President Chief Dr. Jewel Howard-Taylor has joined other top officials of the Government of Liberia including President George Weah to express grief over the tragic tanker blast incident in Freetown City, Sierra Leone that took the lives of more than 100 persons so far since November 5, 2021.
Vice President Howard-Taylor said the fatal accident marks a very difficult period in the lives of Sierra Leoneans- neighbors who are already overcoming many vexing challenges.
She extends her deepest condolence to President Julius Maada Bio, Vice President Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh
and people of Sierra Leone especially the bereaved families for the loss.
The National Disaster Management Agency of Sierra Leone told newsmen about 24-hour after the accident that a fire incident was reported at Wellington PMD Junction involving a loaded fuel tanker and a truck carrying granite stones that led to the loss of lives and properties.
The Agency said initial findings revealed that both vehicles collided on the highway while the fuel tanker was about entering into a nearby filling station to discharge its fuel.
Footages and eyewitnesses intimated that while the collision took place, both drivers came out of their vehicles and warned community residents to stay off the scene while trying to address a leakage emanating from the collision.
In the interim, some community members rushed to the scene and took advantage of the leakage to scoop fuel and store it in nearby makeshift structures. In the cause of scooping the fuel, there was a major explosion that resulted in the fire disaster that occurred.
The NDMA immediately visited the scene and coordinated emergency response with partners. Ambulances were assembled to take corpses and those in critical situations to various hospitals in Freetown.
Data provided so far indicates that a total of 98 deaths have been recorded and 92 victims are currently admitted at various hospitals within Freetown. Of the total hospitalized victims suffering from varying degrees of burning, there are 48 at Connaught Hospital, 20 at 34 Military Hospital, 18 at Emergency Hospital and 6 at Choithram Hospital.
nment of Sierra Leone through the Ministry of Health and Sanitation has ensured that adequate Doctors and Nurses are fully on duty since last night. Also, sufficient medical supply has been provided to the victims in the various hospitals.
By the weekend of November 7, 2021, the number of persons affected including deaths and serious injuries has gone up to 189, accord to Freetown City Mayor Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr.
She indicated that hospitals treating the victims are running out of blood supplies and calling for donations.
On behalf of the government, the Vice President, Dr Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh visited the various hospitals to ensure the provision of effective medical service to the victims. Today, 6th November 2021, the Vice President also visited the epicentre of the disaster in sympathy with families and members of the public affected by the inferno. He assured them of Government’s full support in responding to this crisis.
NDMA and partners have established an Incident Command Center (ICC) at the disaster scene to ensure effective coordination and ensured the activation of the National Situation Room (NSR) at its headquarters, Aberdeen, Freetown. This will be followed by a comprehensive assessment to ascertain the full extent of the damage left by the disaster and tracing of lost family members.
