WEEKLY BULLETIN ON OUTBREAKS
AND OTHER EMERGENCIES
Week 46: 08 – 14 November 2021
Data as reported by: 17:00; 14 November 2021
...
Fire explosion Sierra Leone
304 Cases
143 Death
47.0% CFR
EVENT DESCRIPTION
On the night of Friday 5 November 2021, a tragic accident involving
the collision of a transportation lorry and a petroleum tanker occurred
between 9-10 p.m. The accident occurred in the densely populated,
industrial neighbourhood of Wellington located in the country’s
capital of Freetown. A lorry truck full of granite slabs collided with
a loaded petroleum tanker leading to leakage of fuel. The situation
caused heavy traffic on the normally busy highway that connects the
city centre to the eastern part of the city.
At the scene of the accident, a large number of people (mostly on
motorbikes and taxi riders) took advantage of the leaked fuel and
collected it since some struggle to afford it. While this was happening,
the tanker exploded into a fireball causing a catastrophic situation.
The surroundings of the site were immediately burned harming
nearby people, vehicles, and informal trade structures along the road.
As of 12 November 2021, a total of 304 individuals have reportedly
been affected by the incident causing 143 deaths thus far. A total
of 84 victims perished at the scene of which 75 (89.3%) have not
been identified. As of the same date, there were 58 patients admitted
to five hospitals in Freetown of which six patients remain in critical
condition. At least 41 people who were injured have been discharged
from the hospitals.
Preliminary analysis of 147 victims has shown that most were
male (112, 76.2%) and the mean age was 24.7 years. In addition,
22 vehicles, 48 motorbikes, and 3 tricycles, several properties,
businesses, vegetation, and surrounding neighbourhoods were
destroyed. Acute consequences of the explosion include air pollution,
destruction of vegetation in the surrounding environment, disruption
of social and economic livelihood of households within a onekilometre
radius from the site potentially affecting approximately 35 605 persons.
PUBLIC HEALTH ACTIONS
The Public Health National Emergency Operations Centre has
coordinated the public health components of the response under
the leadership of the National Disaster Management Agency
which coordinates the overall humanitarian response. There are
daily meetings to provide coordination for this disastrous event.
Various public health-related response areas have presented
plans with activities to support the overall response including
surveillance and laboratory
Emergency medical kits containing medicines, fluid infusions,
disinfectants, autoclave sterilizer, dressings for burns and
gloves among others were donated to the Ministry of Health
and Sanitation by WHO and the United Arab Emirates.
Additional medicines and medical supplies have been donated
by multilateral and local partners. The supplies have been
distributed to all hospitals caring for patients so far and more
are expected to arrive.
A surge medical team was deployed from Temple Medical
University of the United States of America to provide patientcentred
case management starting at Connaught Hospital and
34 Military Hospital where the majority of cases are admitted.
Additional medical personnel will be deployed as they are still
arriving in the country.
A mass burial was held on 8 November 2021 for the 75
unrecognized bodies. Before burial, laboratory personnel
collected tissue samples from each corpse to allow for DNA
testing and post-mortem identification of victims.
Blood donation drives have been conducted.
Standard operating procedures have been drafted for the
nutritional management of severe burn patients.
Patients requiring specialized feeding due to injuries have been
enumerated.
Psychological first aid training has been provided to front line
workers across sectors.
Risk communications teams are engaging with civil society
organisations, inter-religious councils, and press about the
incident.
SITUATION INTERPRETATION
A major traffic accident caused by a transportation truck striking
a fuel truck ended in a mass casualty incident. Tragically, more
than 100 people have died and many more were severely burned
and injured due to an explosion affecting a large number of
them who were stuck in traffic and others who gathered to
take advantage of the leaked fuel. Furthermore, an extensive
amount of damage to property such as vehicles, storefronts,
and land has been endured. An accident of this magnitude has
stressed the hospitals and called for unprecedented response
needs ranging from DNA matching technology to specialized
nutritional management operating procedures for burn victims.
...
AND OTHER EMERGENCIES
Week 46: 08 – 14 November 2021
Data as reported by: 17:00; 14 November 2021
...
Fire explosion Sierra Leone
304 Cases
143 Death
47.0% CFR
EVENT DESCRIPTION
On the night of Friday 5 November 2021, a tragic accident involving
the collision of a transportation lorry and a petroleum tanker occurred
between 9-10 p.m. The accident occurred in the densely populated,
industrial neighbourhood of Wellington located in the country’s
capital of Freetown. A lorry truck full of granite slabs collided with
a loaded petroleum tanker leading to leakage of fuel. The situation
caused heavy traffic on the normally busy highway that connects the
city centre to the eastern part of the city.
At the scene of the accident, a large number of people (mostly on
motorbikes and taxi riders) took advantage of the leaked fuel and
collected it since some struggle to afford it. While this was happening,
the tanker exploded into a fireball causing a catastrophic situation.
The surroundings of the site were immediately burned harming
nearby people, vehicles, and informal trade structures along the road.
As of 12 November 2021, a total of 304 individuals have reportedly
been affected by the incident causing 143 deaths thus far. A total
of 84 victims perished at the scene of which 75 (89.3%) have not
been identified. As of the same date, there were 58 patients admitted
to five hospitals in Freetown of which six patients remain in critical
condition. At least 41 people who were injured have been discharged
from the hospitals.
Preliminary analysis of 147 victims has shown that most were
male (112, 76.2%) and the mean age was 24.7 years. In addition,
22 vehicles, 48 motorbikes, and 3 tricycles, several properties,
businesses, vegetation, and surrounding neighbourhoods were
destroyed. Acute consequences of the explosion include air pollution,
destruction of vegetation in the surrounding environment, disruption
of social and economic livelihood of households within a onekilometre
radius from the site potentially affecting approximately 35 605 persons.
PUBLIC HEALTH ACTIONS
The Public Health National Emergency Operations Centre has
coordinated the public health components of the response under
the leadership of the National Disaster Management Agency
which coordinates the overall humanitarian response. There are
daily meetings to provide coordination for this disastrous event.
Various public health-related response areas have presented
plans with activities to support the overall response including
surveillance and laboratory
Emergency medical kits containing medicines, fluid infusions,
disinfectants, autoclave sterilizer, dressings for burns and
gloves among others were donated to the Ministry of Health
and Sanitation by WHO and the United Arab Emirates.
Additional medicines and medical supplies have been donated
by multilateral and local partners. The supplies have been
distributed to all hospitals caring for patients so far and more
are expected to arrive.
A surge medical team was deployed from Temple Medical
University of the United States of America to provide patientcentred
case management starting at Connaught Hospital and
34 Military Hospital where the majority of cases are admitted.
Additional medical personnel will be deployed as they are still
arriving in the country.
A mass burial was held on 8 November 2021 for the 75
unrecognized bodies. Before burial, laboratory personnel
collected tissue samples from each corpse to allow for DNA
testing and post-mortem identification of victims.
Blood donation drives have been conducted.
Standard operating procedures have been drafted for the
nutritional management of severe burn patients.
Patients requiring specialized feeding due to injuries have been
enumerated.
Psychological first aid training has been provided to front line
workers across sectors.
Risk communications teams are engaging with civil society
organisations, inter-religious councils, and press about the
incident.
SITUATION INTERPRETATION
A major traffic accident caused by a transportation truck striking
a fuel truck ended in a mass casualty incident. Tragically, more
than 100 people have died and many more were severely burned
and injured due to an explosion affecting a large number of
them who were stuck in traffic and others who gathered to
take advantage of the leaked fuel. Furthermore, an extensive
amount of damage to property such as vehicles, storefronts,
and land has been endured. An accident of this magnitude has
stressed the hospitals and called for unprecedented response
needs ranging from DNA matching technology to specialized
nutritional management operating procedures for burn victims.
...