UNMIL Truck Explodes In Flames

A fire disaster involving an UNMIL container truck has left at least three persons seriously wounded at 15th Gate in Caresyburg District, Montserrado County and destroyed several properties, including a sub office of the Women and Children Section of the Liberia National Police.

The tragedy, which occurred on Tuesday, 3rd December at about 10 A.M.injured three persons, burnt three private homes and left the roofs of several other structures damaged.

Eyewitnesses told the NewDawn that the incident occurred when a white UNMIL container truck transporting oxygenic equipment to Gbarnga, Bong County and Ganta, Nimba County, respectively suddenly stopped and exploded in heavy fire.

They also narrated that, three persons, who serious sustained injuries were taken to the Du-Side Hospital in Harbel, Firestone and disclosed that some UNMIL personnel escaped the scene as a result of pressure from the fire but members of the Firestone Fire Service and the Liberia National Fire Service calmed the situation.

In an interview, the driver of the UNMIL truck Samokai Kromah, who was not wounded, said he stopped to check the vehicle after hearing strange sound under the car.

Kromah said while in the process of checking, the oxygenic equipment onboard suddenly burst in flames, badly burning three conductors of the vehicle. The victims were not immediately identified.

However, one of the affected residents of the 15th Gate community, Madam Esther Tokpah, is calling on government and humanitarian organizations to come to her aid as she lost all belongings in the fire.

Easter, who was initially assisted by Montserrado County Representative Josephine Francis with US$60 and two four-inch mattresses, is a mother of two. The Liberia National Police and the Liberia National Fire Service are said to have begun investigation into the cause of the incident.