Death toll in Uganda tanker explosion rises to 15

MADRID 23 Oct. (EUROPA PRESS) –

At least fifteen people have died, including two minors, in the explosion of a tanker truck in the town of Kigogwa, north of the Ugandan capital, Kampala, on Tuesday, authorities reported this Wednesday.

“Tragedy struck Kigogwa town yesterday along the Kampala-Bombo highway, when a devastating accident claimed the lives of 15 people, with 11 deaths reported at the scene and four more deaths today,” the spokesperson said. of the Kampala Metropolitan Police, Patrick Onyango, on social media.

The police representative has assured that another 24 people were injured, of which 15 are in the ICU (Intensive Care Unit) at the Kiruddu hospital.

“The victims suffered burns that made them unrecognizable,” Onyango lamented, adding that a response team responded “quickly.”

The accident took place around 3:00 p.m. (local time) and the people “most affected” were those who “rushed to get fuel from the truck.” The fire has also destroyed four buildings that housed nine stores. “Properties worth millions of shillings were lost,” the police added.

“This tragic incident serves as a reminder of the risks associated with fuel tanker truck accidents and the importance of taking care when handling hazardous materials,” he said.

Traffic accidents in Uganda are common, and the East African country has one of the highest road accident rates in the world with 29 deaths per 100,000 inhabitants, according to World Bank data.