More than 60 "Burned Alive" In Haiti Gas Tanker Explosion: What you need to know

At least 60 people were killed when a gas tanker truck exploded in the Haitian city of Cap-Haitien on Tuesday morning, a local official said, with overwhelmed medics saying the toll was feared to rise.

Almonor, Deputy Mayor described a horrific scene at the blast site, saying he had seen more than 50 people "burned alive" and that it was "impossible to identify them."

According to Almonor, the truck is believed to have flipped over after the driver lost control while swerving to avoid a motorcycle taxi.

Fuel spilt onto the road and pedestrians apparently rushed to collect the tanker's gas, a precious commodity as Haiti grapples with a severe fuel shortage caused by the tightening grip of criminal gangs on the capital Port-au-Prince.

Almonor said around 20 houses in the area were also set ablaze, but that no details were yet available on possible victim numbers inside the homes.

Medical officials had issued a public appeal for blood donations, a civil protection agency spokesperson told CNN.

Three days of national mourning is declared in the wake of the explosion, "in memory of the victims of this tragedy which grieves the entire Haitian nation".