This article is from the source 'bbc' 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.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-38018256
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Mozambique fuel tanker blast kills dozens | Mozambique fuel tanker blast kills dozens |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| At least 73 people have been killed and 110 injured in a fuel tanker explosion in western Mozambique, officials say. | At least 73 people have been killed and 110 injured in a fuel tanker explosion in western Mozambique, officials say. |
| The circumstances of the blast on Thursday afternoon in the village of Caphirizanje in Tete province, near the border with Malawi, remain unclear. | |
| Some reports say the driver of the tanker was trying to sell fuel to villagers, others that he was ambushed. | Some reports say the driver of the tanker was trying to sell fuel to villagers, others that he was ambushed. |
| The blast itself may have been caused by a lightning strike or a fire nearby, reports say. | The blast itself may have been caused by a lightning strike or a fire nearby, reports say. |
| Price hike | Price hike |
| Dozens of charred bodies lay around the blast site. Some of the badly burned victims had tried to run into the local river, Radio Mozambique said. | Dozens of charred bodies lay around the blast site. Some of the badly burned victims had tried to run into the local river, Radio Mozambique said. |
| Another report said the vehicle had crashed on Wednesday afternoon and that villagers were siphoning off fuel when it exploded on Thursday. | Another report said the vehicle had crashed on Wednesday afternoon and that villagers were siphoning off fuel when it exploded on Thursday. |
| The government said it "deplores the loss of life... and is currently providing the necessary assistance in order to save lives and to comfort the victims' families". | The government said it "deplores the loss of life... and is currently providing the necessary assistance in order to save lives and to comfort the victims' families". |
| Three ministers are due to arrive in the area on Friday to oversee the rescue work and carry out an inquiry. | Three ministers are due to arrive in the area on Friday to oversee the rescue work and carry out an inquiry. |
| Mozambique's government recently increased the price of fuel in response to the fall of the local currency against the dollar. | Mozambique's government recently increased the price of fuel in response to the fall of the local currency against the dollar. |
| Mozambique is one of the world's poorest countries, with more than half the 24 million population living below the poverty line. | Mozambique is one of the world's poorest countries, with more than half the 24 million population living below the poverty line. |
| It gained independence from Portugal in 1975 but is still suffering from the effects of a 16-year civil war that ended in 1992. | It gained independence from Portugal in 1975 but is still suffering from the effects of a 16-year civil war that ended in 1992. |