Liberia tanker explosion victims buried in mass graves

Liberia authorities have commenced the mass burial of victims of Tuesday’s tanker truck explosion, local media reports.

The ceremonies were conducted in partnership with the Liberian National Red Cross Society.

More than 40 people were feared dead when a tanker truck exploded after crashing in central Liberia, the country's chief medical officer told local media.

The tanker carrying gasoline crashed and tipped into a ditch along a road in Totota, about 130 kilometres (80 miles) from the capital Monrovia on Wednesday.

Dr Francis Kateh told local broadcaster Super Bongese TV it was difficult to determine the number of victims because some had been reduced to ashes but he estimated that more than 40 people were killed in the incident.