Over 100 people are feared dead after a fuel tanker exploded in Sudan’s Western Equatoria state county of Maridi Thursday, authorities said. Several other people were reportedly injured during the huge explosion.
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The incident took place on Wednesday as the truck was travelling to South’s Sudan’s Western Equatoria region. Some victims were burned beyond recognition, he said.
He said the injured were taken to local hospitals which are overcrowded.
Mr Yanga said the death toll had risen to 176, and officials feared the true number of wounded was not yet known as many may have fled the scene.
Doctors and medical staff were flying in from across the country to help with the emergency, he added.
Layal Horanieh, spokeswoman for the worldwide Committee of the Red Cross in the South Sudanese capital of Juba, said the aid group has sent two burn kits to Maridi, each with enough equipment to treat at least 50 patients.
Around 100 people have died in South Sudan when a truck carrying petrol exploded, officials have told Al Jazeera.
Ateny said that the incident was “an accident” and is unrelated to the ongoing conflict in the region.
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Rebels and the government signed a peace deal in August, although the ceasefire has already been violated.
