CARICOM expresses sadness following fuel truck tragedy in Haiti

GEORGETOWN, Guyana, CMC – Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretary General, Dr Carla Barnett, has expressed “profound sorrow” at the loss of life in Haiti after a tanker truck loaded with fuel exploded on Monday night, killing more than 60 people.

“I want to express on behalf of the Community my profound sorrow at the loss of life as a result of the explosion of a gas tanker in Haiti's second city Cap Haitien. More than 50 people have been confirmed dead with the numbers rising,” Barnett said prior to the start of a regional news conference on Tuesday.

Mayor of Cap-Haitien, Yvrose Pierre, said he is “appalled by the tragedy that affects our city after the explosion of this tanker.

“All my thoughts are on the victims and all their loved ones at this tragic time. We express our deep condolences to the families of the victims and wounded”.

Prime Minister Ariel Henry has declared three days of mourning “in memory victims of this tragedy”.

He said field hospitals have been deployed in Cap-Haitien to provide necessary care to victims.”

Early reports indicate that the tanker was trying to avoid an oncoming motorcycle when it veered and flipped early Tuesday.

Most of those killed were local residents who rushed to retrieve fuel from the overturned truck.

The fire spread, setting fire to vehicles, motorcycles and at least 30 houses nearby.

Hours after the blast, buildings and overturned vehicles were still smoking as firefighters covered burned bodies in white sheets and loaded them onto the back of a construction truck.

Haitians for months have been scrambling to find gasoline amid shortages that have shuttered gas stations, sent fuel prices spiralling on the black market and forced businesses to close.

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