98 dead in Sierra Leone fuel tanker explosion

Authorities in Sierra Leone have confirmed 98 people have died as a result of a fuel tanker explosion in the eastern suburb of Wellington, outside Freetown.

Vice-President Mohammed Juldeh Jalloh told Sierra Leoneans late Saturday evening data available to the government revealed 98 people are confirmed dead, while 90 others are being hospitalized in four hospitals in the country.

Sierra Leone President Julius Maada Bio expressed sadness over the incident and said he was "deeply disturbed by tragic fires and the horrendous loss of lives. My profound sympathies to families who have lost loved ones and those who have been maimed as a result. My government will do everything to support affected families".

The explosion came as a result of a fuel tanker which ran into a truck that was parked along the road, according to a source in the office of the presidency.

President Bio has cut short his overseas engagement to return to the country.

Sierra Leone, a country still recovering from a decade-long war, has a huge infrastructure deficit, including lack of access to a good road network.

With poverty still high in the country, many young people, including the deceased, saw the fuel spill as an opportunity make money by collecting the fuel.