South Sudan’s Machar says Maridi tank explosion incident a tragedy

September 17, 2015 (ADDIS ABABA) – Former South Sudan’s vice-president and leader of the armed opposition faction, SPLM-IO, said the fuel tank explosion which reportedly resulted to over a 100 people dead and many more injured was a tragedy that should be investigated.

The designated first vice-president paid his heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families of those who lost their loved ones in these untimely deaths.

“This is a great tragedy which has in a single day befallen our citizens in Western Equatoria state. On behalf of the SPLM/SPLA and on my own behalf, I pay my heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families who have lost their loved ones in this tragic incident,” Machar said in a statement on Thursday from his office’s media official.

The incident occurred on Thursday, according to reports, when a fuel tanker carrying petrol overturned on the road about 7km from Maridi town, prompting hundreds of residents in the area to rush to the scene to get fuel which was spilling down from the tanker.

A gunshot by unknown person maybe to try to disperse the crowd, or with ill intention resulted into the explosion of the tanker, killing over a hundred people instantly, with some dying later on.

But the rebel leader’s spokesman said there was need to thoroughly investigate the incident.

(ST)