This archive report was first published on 10 August 2019.
On Saturday, a damaged tanker truck exploded in eastern Tanzania, resulting in one of the worst incidents of its kind in the East African country.
According to police figures cited by the Tanzanian state broadcaster KBC, at least 70 people were injured in the explosion, which occurred in the town of Morogoro, approximately 120 miles from the economic hub of Dar es Salaam.
Regional police commissioner Steven Kabwe told Azam TV that many of those injured suffered serious burns.
Witnesses reported that a crowd had gathered around the fuel tanker after it was involved in an accident early Saturday, with some people attempting to siphon away fuel when the truck burst into flames.
Government spokesman Hassan Abbasi expressed his condolences on Twitter, stating, 'We send our condolences to the families, relatives and friends.'
Residents in East Africa often fall victim to explosions while stealing fuel from incapacitated tankers, with those who steal the fuel hoping to sell it cheaply to motorists.
Similar incidents have occurred in the past, including a 2013 explosion in Uganda that killed at least 29 people.
Henry Bantu, a road safety expert and founder of the Tanzania-based Safe Speed Foundation, emphasized the need for local leaders to educate people on the risks associated with damaged fuel tankers.
Published on August 10, 2019.
