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'More than 100' reported dead after fuel tank explosion in South Sudan | 'More than 100' reported dead after fuel tank explosion in South Sudan |
(35 minutes later) | |
More than 100 people are reported to have been killed in South Sudan after a fuel truck explosion. | More than 100 people are reported to have been killed in South Sudan after a fuel truck explosion. |
A local government official, Charles Kisagna, said at least 100 people were killed and a further 50 people were injured in the blast in Maridi in the country’s heavily rural Western Equatoria state when the truck veered off the road. | A local government official, Charles Kisagna, said at least 100 people were killed and a further 50 people were injured in the blast in Maridi in the country’s heavily rural Western Equatoria state when the truck veered off the road. |
He said local hospitals had been overwhelmed by the injuried saying: "We don't have medical equipment and these people may not survive because we do not have the facilities to treat the highly burnt people." | |
Presidential spokesman Ateny Wek Ateny previously reported that 85 people were known to have died. | Presidential spokesman Ateny Wek Ateny previously reported that 85 people were known to have died. |
According to local officials, the truck was “full of petrol” which started to leak after the crash. | According to local officials, the truck was “full of petrol” which started to leak after the crash. |
Locals began siphoning off fuel and someone is believed to have lit a cigarette, sparking an explosion. | Locals began siphoning off fuel and someone is believed to have lit a cigarette, sparking an explosion. |
South Sudan, which officially broke away from Sudan in 2011 and has been mired in conflict since December 2013, has no tarmac roads and fuel tankers have to travel along potholed roads through desperately poor communities. | |
Mr Atenty said the incident was "an accident" and had nothing to do with the ongoing conflict. | |
More to follow | More to follow |