More than 50 people have been confirmed dead and dozens injured after a truck carrying gasoline exploded in northern Haiti late yesterday.

This is the latest disaster to hit the Caribbean country, whose troubles deepened greatly this year with the July 7 assassination of former President Jovenel Moise, and a 7.2 magnitude earthquake in mid-August. The country has also been experiencing a spike in gang-related kidnappings.

Prime Minister Ariel Henry said the blast that occurred in the city of Cap-Haitien has left him devastated and used social media to declare three days of mourning on the island.

“Three days of national mourning will be decreed throughout the territory, in memory of the victims of this tragedy that the entire Haitian nation is grieving,” he tweeted.

The explosion comes at a time when Haiti is still struggling to correct a severe shortage of fuel and spiraling gas prices that recently forced hospitals to turn away patients, temporarily shut down schools and businesses, and prompted the government of US and Canada to urge its citizens to leave while they still could.

Officials believe the explosion occurred after the gas truck overturned in an attempt to avoid hitting a motorcycle. Deputy Mayor of Cap-Haitien, Patrick Almonor, confirmed that at least 53 people have died, more than 100 injured and around 20 homes burned, following the explosion.

He said he expects the number of deaths to keep rising as people who died in their homes have not yet been counted.

Mr Almonor said a local hospital is in dire need of more nurses, doctors, and basic medical supplies to help those injured.

Prime Minister Henry said his administration is now deploying field hospitals to the area to help those affected.