A fuel truck ran out of control and exploded into flames near the Ugandan capital on Tuesday, killing 11 people, including two minors, police said.
The impoverished East African country has witnessed several similar disasters in recent years as people rushed to steal fuel from tankers involved in road accidents.
Tuesday’s blast occurred on a highway in the town of Kigogwa, about 25 kilometres (15 miles) north of Kampala.
“Tragedy struck today in Kigogwa Town along Kampala Bombo road when a fuel tanker overturned and caught fire, claiming the lives of 11 people, including 9 adults and 2 minors,” the Uganda Police Force said in a post on X.
“The victims were burnt beyond recognition.”
Images from the scene showed yellow police tape around the charred wreck of the tanker while forensic specialists and emergency responders inspected nearby properties destroyed in the blast.
The police statement said the tanker was travelling from Kampala to Gulu in northern Uganda, a journey of about 650 kilometres.
“Unfortunately, people who rushed to siphon fuel from the tanker were the most affected,” it said.
Four buildings housing nine shops were destroyed in the blaze, it added, saying property worth millions of Ugandan shillings was lost.
“This tragic incident serves as a reminder of the risks associated with fuel tanker accidents and the importance of exercising caution when dealing with hazardous materials.”
– Investigations under way –
The incident took place just days after a fuel tanker exploded in northern Nigeria on October 15, killing more than 170 people.
“Investigations are under way. Rescue and emergencies are on the scene and the fire prevention service from the police have controlled the fire,” Charles Lwanga, resident district commissioner for the area, told AFP.
Ambulances rushed to the scene to take the injured to hospital, Lwanga told reporters, adding that firefighters had prevented the flames from reaching a nearby petrol station.
Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesman Patrick Onyango said in a statement on X that the fuel tanker overturned and caught fire at 3 pm (1200 GMT).
The town lies on the road between Kampala and the town of Bombo, where the Uganda Land Forces have their headquarters.
In August 2019, 19 people died when a fuel truck barrelled into other vehicles in the busy town of Kyambura in western Uganda and exploded.
In 2002, 70 people were killed when an oil truck rammed into a bus in Rutoto, less than 50 kilometres (30 miles) from Kyambura.
And in 2013, 33 people died in a blast after a fuel truck overturned in Kampala.
Uganda imports an average of 2.5 billion litres of petroleum a year, according to local media reports.
It is currently developing oil fields in the Lake Albert area of northwestern Uganda in a controversial mega-project with TotalEnergies of France and China’s state-run CNOOC.
The $10 billion project — which also involves building a 1,443-kilometre (900-mile) heated pipeline to ship the crude to Tanzania — has come under fire from rights groups and environmental campaigners.
Uganda’s veteran President Yoweri Museveni says the oil is vital to help economic development in the country, where the poverty rate stood at about 20 percent, according to government figures for 2020/21.
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