奇速英语

海地油罐车爆炸致多人死伤

At least 62 people have been killed and dozens injured after a tanker(油罐车) transporting petrol exploded in Cap-Haitien (海地角), Haiti’s second largest city on Monday, authorities said. The situation remains “critical”, Deputy Mayor Patrick Almonor said on Tuesday, who also made an appeal for blood donations.

Almonor said the fuel tanker exploded after it had stopped due to problems with its engines and began leaking gas. “People gathered to collect fuel directly from the truck when the explosion occurred,” he said. Haiti has been affected by an extremely serious fuel shortage that has led to power cuts and protests. The damage caused by the explosion to the city is extensive, according to Almonor. “We have nearly 50 houses impacted by the fire and most of them will need to be knocked down and rebuilt,” he said. “The city will need a lot of help to come out of this tragedy, and the central government is offering to help but we are waiting to see it,” he added. “We believe we will need more than just the central government, the situation is critical.”

Local officials say rescue efforts are ongoing and that the number of deaths is expected to rise. Haitian authorities say they have arranged two field hospitals to Cap-Haitien. At least six people had been lifted by air from Cap-Haitien to a hospital specializing in serious burns in capital city Port-au-Prince, according to Doctors without Borders, which runs the hospital.

UNICEF will send medical kits for hospitals in Cap-Haitien for the treatment of the burn victims, according to a statement from spokesman Ndiaga Seck. “UNICEF feels sorry for the pain of grieving(感到悲痛的) families and families whose members have been injured,” added Seck in the statement. Haiti’s Prime Minister Ariel Henry has declared three days of national mourning immediately after the explosion, “in memory of the victims of this tragedy which brings griefs to the entire Haitian nation.”