By KABS KANU
Sierra Leone was the victim of another terrible disaster this evening and many people have lost their lives and hospitals overwhelmed by victims, following a horrible fire disaster after a tragic accident between a fuel tanker and a truck which collided head-on at the SLPMB junction at Wellington , near Freetown.
According to reports filtering in from the deadly scene, there was a fuel spill from the tanker after the collision with the truck . It was this fuel which had spread all over the highway and even gone under vehicles in the traffic that got ignited and burnt everything in its path, including members of the public who had rushed with containers to scoop free fuel , passers- by and passengers in nearby vehicles.
Photos displayed on social media by activists and contributors showed massive fire balls reaching out into the sky. Because of the scorching heat and the wide field of devastation, help for burning victims was not immediately available. But rescue teams have now accessed the scene and victims have been transported to hospitals. It is being reported that the Satellite Hospital and the nation’s leading referral health Centre, Connaught Hospital , are already overwhelmed with the victims and the death toll is rising.
“ It is not a good sight at all ..it is a terrible, terrible accident and I have not seen this before “ Retired Lt. Gen. Brima Sesay of the Sierra Leone Disaster Management.
Soloku Kalawa, writing on Facebook, said: “My heart bleeds for the people who died and the injured in the oil-filled-tanker explosion in Freetown, Sierra Leone. The photos coming through are horrendous. But the most disappointing aspect is the lack of adequate emergency response. I hope that the situation can be addressed immediately and adequately in order to reduce the casualty rate”😢😥 Hawanatu Konneh Fofana, a blogger, reported on her Facebook page : “ I saw a dead pregnant woman lying on the ground burnt beyond recognition and her family was crying” 😭😭😭😭😭😭 Rev. Momodu Conteh exclaimed on his page :
“VERY PAINFULL TO WATCH THE TANKER EXPLOSION THAT CLAIMED INNOCENT LIVES, IN THE EAST END . THE MACABRE VIDEOS ARE TO GRUESOME TO WATCH ! GOD HELP SIERRA LEONE !”
As at the time of writing, the death toll is said to have surpassed a hundred deceased , but there has been no official confirmation . AYV TV was reporting about 400 people dead .
WE WILL BRING YOU MORE DETAILS .
Indeed Allah is great 🙏🏾🙏🏾😭😭😭😭
Wish the country declared a day of fast for all religions. Maybe we need salvation as a nation. Disasters are too frequent. Sad news like almost every year🤦🏽♂️🤦🏽♂️
November 5 is a sad occurrence for our beloved Mama Salone 🇸🇱😭 Coming from that part of the city – Wellington, my eyes couldn’t control my tears. Everything is sad and unprecedented😭 It’s hard to explain and hard to understand. Still checking on family and friends. We are yet to know the amount of lives and properties lost.🤦🤦
May Allah see us through🙏🏾 Please let’s pray and fast as a nation, I recommend with a shivering voice🙏🏾😭😭😭
May Allah forgive our mistakes!
© Sallieu Sankoh (Center)
