December 23, 2024
Miragoâne, Haiti – Three days after the tragic explosion of a fuel tanker in Morne Calbastier, near the port city of Miragoâne, the community remains in shock. On Saturday, September 14, 2024, the incident claimed the lives of 26 people and seriously injured more than 40, leaving the region in mourning.
Details of the Explosion
The accident occurred when a fuel tanker, transporting gasoline, collided with a public transport vehicle, causing a massive fuel leak. Despite warnings from the driver, motorcyclists and passersby attempted to collect the gasoline spilling from the damaged tank. Just a few minutes later, a devastating explosion rocked the area.
The flames engulfed 17 vehicles, including 16 motorcycles, trapping victims in the rapidly spreading fire. Scenes of devastation were visible everywhere, with charred bodies difficult to identify and many severely injured.
Response from Prime Minister Garry Conille
Interim Prime Minister Garry Conille reacted immediately by visiting the site of the disaster. In coordination with local authorities and organizations like Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), he organized the evacuation of the most critically injured to specialized hospitals in Port-au-Prince, using emergency flights.
“This is a horrific scene, one I have just witnessed,” lamented the Prime Minister, highlighting the solidarity of doctors in treating the fire victims. He also expressed his support for those affected by the fuel tanker explosion in Miragoâne on Saturday, September 14, 2024.
Future Outlook
Following this tragedy, Prime Minister Garry Conille announced several measures to enhance the country’s disaster response capacity. These include the upcoming acquisition of helicopters to facilitate emergency evacuations in remote areas and improve coordination between local institutions and international organizations in crisis management.
A Grim Reminder of Past Tragedies
This incident recalls similar tragedies in Haiti. In December 2021, a similar tanker explosion in Cap-Haïtien claimed more than 60 lives. More recently, in May 2022, another tanker overturned in Saint-Marc, igniting a fire that killed the driver.
These accidents once again highlight the fragility of Haiti’s road infrastructure and the urgent need to strengthen safety standards for fuel transportation in the country.
The tanker explosion in Miragoâne, a port city located about 100 kilometers from Port-au-Prince, Haiti’s capital, will remain etched in memory as a heartbreaking tragedy that claimed many lives. In these moments of grief and suffering, the solidarity of the Haitian people and international actors is more crucial than ever to overcome this ordeal and learn the necessary lessons for the future.