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A fuel tanker collided with a truck in a central part of Freetown late last week.
The capital of Sierra Leone was subsequently hit by a fire that has so far claimed over 100 lives and left mass destruction in its wake.
President Julius Maada Bio cancelled engagements abroad to lead the response. His first reaction to the crisis was via a tweet.
“Deeply disturbed by the tragic fires and the horrendous loss of life around the Wellington PMB area. My profound sympathies with families who have lost loved ones and those who have been maimed as a result. My Government will do everything to support affected families,” he tweeted on November 6.
According to reports, fuel spilled from the tanker before igniting and the resulting inferno engulfed bystanders and vehicles at a busy junction.
Some reports say people who had gone to siphon fuel from the tanker were killed whiles buildings meters away were also engulfed by the ensuing blaze.
Three days of national mourning has been declared starting today and injured persons numbering over 100 will receive free medical treatment, President Maada Bio has said.
Police and emergency service workers arrived at the scene and took hours to bring the blaze under control. The place was subsequently cordoned off by police for investigations.
“I cut short all Foreign engagements and the ECOWAS summit to return home and lead our nation in mourning, visit the wounded and burned in hospitals, and do all we can do as a nation to support victims and their families,” President Maada Bio tweeted on the 7th.
“Today, I was deeply disturbed to see first hand the loss we have suffered as a country. This is a difficult time for us all. As we mourn our loss together, let us stay resolute and we will come out of this stronger than ever and ensure that this never happens again,” another tweet on Sunday, November 7 read.
Source: www.ghanaweb.com