Moving gas tanker explosion kills 29
Source: Agencies |
July 1, 2013, Monday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
A car crashed into a moving gas tanker, sparking a fire that killed at least 29 people and left scores more badly burned, Ugandan police said yesterday.
Police spokesman Ibn Senkumbi said the gas tanker exploded after colliding with a passenger car late Saturday on the outskirts of the Ugandan capital, Kampala.
He said the gas tanker had been knocked from behind by a car. Gas started leaking, he said, and some passenger motorcyclists stalked the tanker after the driver abandoned it. Then suddenly the gas tanker went up in flames that engulfed nearby cars and scores of people who had swarmed around the vehicle.
"Some people noticed the flow of fuel and they came for it," he said. "In the process there was an explosion. The tanker exploded, killing 29 people on the spot." At least 29 others were left badly burned, he said.
Yesterday morning, police were still looking for dead bodies in a nearby swamp where many of the victims had run to douse themselves after catching fire.
Victims nursing serious burns were rushed to the main referral hospital in Kampala, where an Associated Press reporter counted at least 20 badly burned patients.
Visitors were being turned away by police and security officials who said doctors and nurses there had been overwhelmed by the number of casualties from the gas explosion.
Explosions involving moving gas tankers happen frequently in this poor East African country, often killing those who rush to the scene with plastic cans hoping to steal fuel.
Police spokesman Ibn Senkumbi said the gas tanker exploded after colliding with a passenger car late Saturday on the outskirts of the Ugandan capital, Kampala.
He said the gas tanker had been knocked from behind by a car. Gas started leaking, he said, and some passenger motorcyclists stalked the tanker after the driver abandoned it. Then suddenly the gas tanker went up in flames that engulfed nearby cars and scores of people who had swarmed around the vehicle.
"Some people noticed the flow of fuel and they came for it," he said. "In the process there was an explosion. The tanker exploded, killing 29 people on the spot." At least 29 others were left badly burned, he said.
Yesterday morning, police were still looking for dead bodies in a nearby swamp where many of the victims had run to douse themselves after catching fire.
Victims nursing serious burns were rushed to the main referral hospital in Kampala, where an Associated Press reporter counted at least 20 badly burned patients.
Visitors were being turned away by police and security officials who said doctors and nurses there had been overwhelmed by the number of casualties from the gas explosion.
Explosions involving moving gas tankers happen frequently in this poor East African country, often killing those who rush to the scene with plastic cans hoping to steal fuel.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
