At least ten dead and more than 65 injured in a chain explosion at a gas station in Yemen

MADRID Jan 12 (EUROPA PRESS) –

At least a dozen people have died and more than 65 have been injured as a result of a chain explosion at a gas station in the Yemeni province of Al Bayda, local media have reported citing official sources.

The incident took place in the Zaher district, the result of a chain reaction that set two nearby gas stations and an adjacent storage tank on fire, the Yemen Online portal reported with information from local officials.

At the time of the explosion, the gas station was busy, leading to a “chaotic scene” as those present ran to escape the flames.

The authorities have already launched an investigation to elucidate the causes of the explosion, which have yet to be determined.

The spokesman for the Yemeni Government, Hashem Sharaf al Din, has conveyed his condolences to the relatives and friends of the victims of the accident, while praising “the prompt response of the Civil Defense, which quickly extinguished the fires”, as well as ” the heroic efforts of citizens who contributed to extinguishing the flames, rescuing victims, providing first aid and donating blood,” according to statements collected by the official Saba agency.

Along the same lines, the government representative thanked “the exceptional work” of the medical teams, official organizations, the Army and other authorities, also praising the “understanding and cooperation” of citizens.