6 die of tanker explosion in Sierra Leone

Six unidentified people were reported dead beyond recognition in Sierra Leone, a popular local press AWOKO reported Thursday. According to the paper, the six people were reported to have met their death in an inferno caused by an explosion, when a Total fuel tanker loaded with 23,000 liters of petrol collided with a DAF container truck along the Lunsar-Makeni highway in the northern district of Port Loko. According to the paper, the DAF truck with registration number AJB 619 was heading towards the head quarter town of Makeni in the north, loaded with 500 bags of sugar from the Chinese run Magbass Sugar Company in Makeni reportedly collided with the tanker that was heading to the capital, Freetown. An eye witness report noted the tanker was going down a sloop when the vehicle had a flat tyre and in the process of putting the vehicle under control and at the same time he was negotiating a curve and in the event he collided head-on with the oncoming DAF vehicle. Five people including the driver were caught in the inferno ignited by the heavy impact are said to have burnt beyond recognition. The witness also reported that the driver of the DAF, whose identity was readily available is said to have also burnt in the fire. The two vehicles are said to have burnt completely. The bodies were put in body bags and conveyed to the Makeni hospital about 120 kilometers from the capital city of Freetown.