South Sudan death toll

A TANKER carrying oil crashed off of a road in Maridi, a settlement in the world´s youngest independent country South Sudan on September 16 and then burst into flames leaving at least 100 people dead.

Having come to a halt, it was besieged by a number of people who were trying to salvage oil from the stricken tanker. The vehicle then burst into flames and the explosion ripped through those who were close by. As well as the 100 reported dead, at least a further 50 are known to be seriously injured with little chance of survival.

According to Charles Kisagna, a government minister, “we don’t have medical equipment and these people may not survive because we do not have the facilities to treat the badly burnt people.”

South Sudan is one of Africa’s poorest countries with reportedly no tarmac roads and still suffering from conflict despite independence, although this explosion is considered to be a simple accident rather than the result of any attack.