TANZANIA: DEATH TOLL FROM THE FUEL TANKER TRAGEDY REACHES 82

By Our Correspondent, Dar es Salaam TANZANIA

SIX more victims of last Saturday's Morogoro fuel tanker blast have died bringing the figure to 82 deaths after 62 died on the scene.

A fuel tanker carrying a consignment of petrol exploded in Tanzania on Saturday, killing 62 people and injuring 63, majority of the victims were motorcyclists who rushed to the scene to collect the oil gushing onto the road, according to eye witnesses. 

The six victims were among the 38 admitted at Muhimbili National Hospital (MNH) after the accident that claimed 62 lives on the spot, other victims are admitted at Morogoro regional referral hospital.

Last Sunday, 71 people were laid to rest at Kola cemetery in the town most of the bodies had been burnt beyond recognition.

Following the death of the six people, MNH’s Senior Public Relations and Customer Care Services Manager, Aminiel Algaesha, said 32 are still nursing their injuries at the facility; 17 among them in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).

The Morogoro Regional Commissioner, Steven Kwebwe, said most of those who died following the disaster were trying to collect leaking petrol from an overturned fuel tanker that later caught fire.

Footage from the scene showed the truck engulfed in flames and huge clouds of black smoke, with charred bodies. The burnt-out remains of motorcycle taxis lie scattered on the ground among scorched trees.

A video posted on social media showed dozens of people carrying yellow jerrycans around the truck before explosion.

"We arrived at the scene with two neighbors just after the truck was overturned. While some good Samaritans were trying to get the driver and the other two people out of the truck, others were jostling each other, equipped with jerrycans, to collect petrol," eye witness said.

The Prime Minister, Kassim Majaliwa, ordered an official inquiry was on Sunday into the accident, with a preliminary report expected later this week.

In a recent development, the government has commissioned a team of trauma to counsel survivors of tanker horror.

Led by the Commissioner for Social Welfare Dr Naftali Ng'ondi, the team is made up of therapists, welfare and community development experts drawn from ministries as well as the Institute of Social Welfare and the University of Dar es Salaam.

The Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office, Jenista Mhagama, told reporters here yesterday that the experts will identify families that lost their loved ones as well as those with survivors.

The minister said there were 16 survivors still admitted at the Morogoro regional referral hospital who need psychotherapy apart from treatment of burns and other physical injuries sustained in the tanker fire disaster.

Family members of both the deceased and survivors will also be reached for counseling by the team, she explained.