Uganda tanker blast kills at least 29

[PAULSTANL3Y]

Uganda tanker blast kills at least 29

Explosion in Kampala kills dozens attempting to siphon fuel from stricken fuel tanker after car crash

Associated Press
The Guardian, Sunday 30 June 2013 15.57 BST

Firefighters in Kampala, Uganda, clean a road with water after a fuel tanker blast. Photograph: Reuters

A fuel tanker explosion has killed at least 29 people and left dozens injured, according to Ugandan police.

Spokesman Ibn Senkumbi said the tanker blew up after colliding with a car on Saturday evening on the outskirts of the capital, Kampala.

He said the tanker had been hit from behind, causing a leak. Passersby attempted to siphon fuel from the stricken vehicle after the driver abandoned it. Moments later the tanker burst into flames, engulfing nearby cars and scores of people.

At least 20 badly burned patients were admitted to a hospital in Kampala.

"Some people noticed the flow of fuel and they came for it," Senkumbi said. "The tanker exploded, killing 29 people on the spot." At least 29 others were critically injured, he added.

On Sunday morning, police continued to search for bodies in a papyrus swamp where many of the victims had fled to douse the flames.

The minister for disaster preparedness, Musa Ecweru, described the incident as an avoidable calamity and said it was unfortunate that some people had failed to learn from past mistakes.

"We have always told our people to stay away from trucks that involve inflammable products such as petrol," he said. "We thought they would learn from the lessons of the past."