73 dead from tanker explosion

Child victim, tanker explosion taken into ambulance 

73 people and 110 others were injured from a tanker explosion in Mozambique. 

According to a statement by the government, at least 73 people were killed and 110 others injured on Thursday when a truck carrying petrol blew up in western Mozambique near Malawi.

“The incident occurred when citizens tried to take petrol from a truck” in the village of Caphiridzange in Tete province, the statement said.

“Because of the heat, the truck burst into flames, leading to the deaths of 43 people and causing burns in 110 others, according to investigators’ initial findings,” it added.

“Ambulances and medical personnel were deployed to the scene in order to assist the victims. The injured were evacuated to Tete hospital” around 90 kilometres (55 miles) away, it said.

Also, according Joao Manasses, the information ministry director, authorities were probing whether the truck was selling petrol when it exploded, or whether it had been ambushed by residents.

A local journalist did also add to this as he said the truck had crashed on Wednesday and exploded on Thursday afternoon, as scores of people tried to siphon off fuel.

The government aims to send three ministers to the scene on Friday to monitor the rescuers’ work.