This archive report was first published on 15 August 2019.
Published on August 15, 2019, a fuel truck explosion in Tanzania has claimed the lives of 82 people, with seven more succumbing to their injuries, a hospital official confirmed on Wednesday.
The National Hospital in Dar es Salaam reported that 32 others were receiving treatment, with 17 in intensive care, following one of the deadliest oil tanker blasts in Africa in recent years.
According to hospital spokesman Aminiel Aligaesha, 'We are continuing to fight as best we can to save those still alive.'
The explosion occurred on Saturday morning near the town of Morogoro, approximately 200 kilometers west of Dar es Salaam, the financial capital.
Flames engulfed a crowd attempting to collect leaking petrol from a tanker that overturned while swerving to avoid a motorcycle.
Investigations revealed that the explosion was triggered when a man attempted to retrieve the truck's battery, creating sparks that ignited the fuel.
As a result, an official inquiry was ordered on Sunday, with a preliminary report expected later this week.
This incident marks the latest in a string of such disasters in Africa, with at least three reported this year alone.
