Liberia: Totota Tanker Explosion Death Toll Rises to 40

Fuel tanker explosion victims in hospital on December 26, 2023.
27 December 2023

Liberia Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Francis Keteh says the death toll from the Totota Tanker's explosion has risen to 40, leaving more than 80 seriously injured.

The devastating incident happened on Tuesday evening when a gas-distributing Tanker carrying 9,000 gallons of gas to Gbarnga, missed the road and fell off around a Church facility in the lower Bong County populated town.

Following the accident, hundreds of residents to advantage of the situation and started to fill their empty containers with gas when they observed leakages from the tanker.

Social media footage shows some residents climbing over the tanker to collect some of the gas just before the tanker exploded.

Speaking during a visit to the Phebe Hospital, Dr. Keteh told the media that more than 80 victims were taken to the Phebe Hospital, and some were transferred to JFK, the 14 Military hospital amongst others.

He said a contact tracing report has so far shown that 40 people are not accounted for from the incident.

"We decided to send men from house to house to do contact tracing. It is sad to tell you that about 40 people have died. Some brunt to aches, some burnt to their bones" he said.

Dr. Keteh has described the situation as "a National Emergency" saying that it is also a lesson to learn to avoid future loss.

He has reaffirmed the commitment of Liberia's health system to providing quality health care to those injured.

AllAfrica publishes around 500 reports a day from more than 100 news organizations and over 500 other institutions and individuals, representing a diversity of positions on every topic. We publish news and views ranging from vigorous opponents of governments to government publications and spokespersons. Publishers named above each report are responsible for their own content, which AllAfrica does not have the legal right to edit or correct.

Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica. To address comments or complaints, please Contact us.