Deaths from Sierra Leone tanker blast rise to 144

The death toll from a fuel tanker explosion in Sierra Leone’s capital on November 5 has risen to 144 from a previous estimate of 115, health ministry data showed on Saturday.

The tanker exploded following a collision in a suburb of Freetown. Victims included people who had flocked to collect fuel leaking from the ruptured vehicle.

Fifty-seven people are still being treated in hospital of whom 11 remain in critical condition, the ministry said.

In early November, it was reported that several people who were bad burn wounds were laying on the streets of Freetown as fire blazed through shops and houses nearby, social media images showed, although Reuters was not immediately able to independently verify the clips.

“The video and photo footage making rounds on social media are harrowing,” said Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr, mayor of the port city.