Scores more were injured in the blast. It was the latest tragedy to hit the country, which has been rocked by political violence, natural disasters, poverty and hunger.
PORT-AU-PRINCE — Dozens of people were killed and scores more were wounded before dawn on Tuesday when a truck carrying gasoline exploded in northern Haiti, according to government officials. The truck had crashed, and a crowd of people had rushed to siphon off its gas when it exploded, according to local officials. “It’s the first time since I’ve been a firefighter in over 17 years that I have lived such a catastrophe,” said Frandy Jean,49, head of firefighters for northern Haiti. “In terms of bodies that we have counted and put in bags and that justice of peace have accounted, we are at about 50 for the moment and counting.