This article is from the source 'independent' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/africa/85-reported-dead-afte-fuel-tank-explosion-in-south-sudan-live-10505698.html
The article has changed 10 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| '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." | 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. |
| Layal Horanieh, spokeswoman for the International Committee of the Red Cross in the South Sudanese capital of Juba, said the aid group has sent two burn kits to Maridi, each with enough equipment to treat at least 50 patients. | |
| 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. | 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. | Mr Atenty said the incident was "an accident" and had nothing to do with the ongoing conflict. |
| Deadly fuel tanker explosions are common in East Africa, where poor residents living near highways converge around fuel tankers involved in accidents to steal gas and then sell it. | |
| More to follow | More to follow |