(Reuters) – Ninety-one people died and more than 100 were injured in capital city of Sierra Leone after a fuel tanker exploded during a collision. This was according to the central morgue as well as local authorities.

While the government does not confirm the number of deaths yet, Freetown’s manager at the state central morgue confirmed that it had received 91 corpses following the explosion.

Amara Jambai, deputy health minister to the capital said that 100 more casualties were admitted at clinics and hospitals across the city.

People were among the victims, Yvonne AkiSawyerr (mayor of Port City), said in a Facebook post that the initial victim was a group who had gathered fuel leaking from the car. Later, the posting was removed to clarify the statement.

Brima Bureh, the head of National Disaster Management Agency said, “We have so many casualties. Burnt corpses.” In a shared video, Sesay says. It was a horrible, terrible accident.

Images of several victims with severe burns were shared on social media. Fire engulfed nearby houses and shops, igniting them. Reuters could not immediately verify these images.

Accidents involving tanker trucks have killed many people in Sub-Saharan Africa.

A tanker explosion that occurred in east Tanzania in 2019 killed 85 people. In 2018, around 50 were killed by a disaster similar in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

According to the mayor, the full extent of damage sustained in Freetown is not known. Police and her deputy also attended the site to help disaster managers.

President Julius Maada Bio sent a tweet saying, “My sincere sympathies for families that have lost loved ones”

My Government will support the families affected by this decision.