A witness recounted the terrifying moments of the U.S. airstrikes on Yemen's fuel port of Ras Isa on Thursday night.
The death toll from the strikes, which targeted the port and several concrete tanks used for storing imported fuel, has risen to 80, with 150 other people wounded, Houthi-run health authorities reported early Saturday.
The victims are workers of the port, including five paramedics.
Mohammed Al-Qadeemi, the witness at the port, recalled the chaos as the U.S. warplanes targeted workers in the sudden attack.
"We were working at the port. Everything was normal. People were going on with their jobs, and the place was full of workers. Then, all of a sudden, the U.S. warplanes attacked the port, targeting the workers. Bodies were torn apart and some body parts even reached the sea," he said.
The port, now a scene of desolation, has been rendered inoperable, with burned trucks, shattered fuel tanks, and debris-laden yards standing as remnants of the destruction.
The halt in operations has triggered concerns of a looming fuel crisis, with significant financial losses impacting the port and fuel traders. The disruption also extends to the supply chain serving numerous Yemeni provinces, compounding the humanitarian crisis.
"Ras Issa Port was hit by a brutal attack with a series of heavy airstrikes. This is a clear violation of the international law and agreements. It's a sign of the U.S. deep failure. As you can see, the damage is massive to private property, lives, and the entire infrastructure. The destruction is severe," said Ibrahim Moqbel, director of the port.
The port, northwest of Yemen's Red Sea city of Hodeidah, has been a main lifeline for importing fuel into the areas seized by the Houthi group. The group has controlled vast areas of northern Yemen since it started a civil war against the government in late 2014.
The attack marks the deadliest since the United States resumed its airstrikes on Houthi targets in mid-March.
Witness recalls horror of US airstrikes on Yemen's fuel port
Witness recalls horror of US airstrikes on Yemen's fuel port
