More than 50 people were killed when a fuel truck exploded in Cap-Haitien, Haiti, the city’s mayor announced on Tuesday.
“We need human resources, and also material resources, namely, serum, gauze, and anything that can be used in case of serious burns,” Mayor Pierre Yvrose said in a Reuters report.
The truck overturned near midnight. The cause of the accident was unknown at the time of the report.
Minister of Foreign Affairs and Worship Claude Joseph shared his condolences in a Twitter post on Tuesday.
“I share the pain and sorrow of all the people,” he said (English translation).
Se zantray mwen k ap rache lè mwen aprann gwo dram ki rive nan vil Okap kote eksplozyon yon kamyon gaz wete lavi plis pase 40 moun nan zòn Lafòsèt. Mwen koube m byen ba devan fanmi viktim yo. Mwen pataje doulè ak lapenn tout moun Okap alawonnbadè.
— Claude Joseph (@claudejoseph03) December 14, 2021
The nation declared three days of mourning in honor of those killed in the accident, according to reports.
Haiti has struggled in recent weeks with fuel shortages that have closed schools and businesses, according to an ABC News report. Gangs have also increased violence and kidnappings in recent months. In October, a group of American missionaries was kidnapped by a gang in the capital of Port-au-Prince. The Daily Wire reported:
“The former field director, Dan Hooley, said Sunday morning that all of the adults were staff members for the group [Christian Aid Ministries], which has fewer than 30 people in the country,” The New York Times reported. “Local authorities said the group that was kidnapped included 16 Americans and one Canadian. Mr. Dooley said a 2-year-old and another young child were among them.”
Law enforcement officials said that the gang, known as “400 Mawozo,” controls the area where the missionaries were kidnapped.
Five of the kidnapped missionaries have since been freed. Twelve missionaries, including one Canadian, remain hostage two months later.
The island nation also continues to recover from the assassination of its president in July that has led to government upheaval.
The Daily Wire previously reported in July:
The United States government has temporarily closed the U.S. Embassy in Haiti following the assassination of President Jovenel Moise by armed intruders early Wednesday.
Moise, 53, was at the presidential palace at around 1:00 am on Wednesday when a “highly trained and heavily armed group” conducted a “coordinated attack,” according to a statement from interim Prime Minister Claude Joseph.
The late president’s wife was also reportedly injured in the attack, but her condition remains unclear. Police have been patrolling the area as forensics teams examine evidence outside the president’s residence.
Joseph, who has only been interim prime minister since April 2021, has declined to elaborate on the nature of the attack. Amidst the uncertainty, the Biden administration’s state department has temporarily closed the U.S. embassy in Port-au-Prince, the capital of Haiti.
“Due to an ongoing security situation, the US Embassy is restricting its direct-hire US citizen staff to the Embassy compounds in Tabarre until further notice. The Embassy will be closed today, including for consular services,” reads a state department security alert from early Wednesday. “Please avoid unnecessary travel in this area at this time.”