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Deadly gas tanker explosion in Mexico City suburb Deadly gas tanker explosion in Mexico City suburb
(about 1 hour later)
A gas tanker has exploded on a motorway in a suburb of Mexico City, killing at least 15 people and injuring 36, officials said. A gas tanker has exploded on a motorway in a suburb of Mexico City, killing at least 18 people and injuring 36, officials said.
The Citizen Safety Department of Mexico State said the figures could rise. Television images showed damaged buildings and cars in the area of Ecatepec on Tuesday morning.
Television images showed damage to surrounding buildings and cars in the area of Ecatepec on Tuesday morning. The explosion happened at about 05:00 local time (10:00 GMT) on the highway between Mexico City and Pachuca.
Local media reported that the explosion, which closed the highway between Mexico City and Pachuca, could have been caused by a collision. The driver of the truck is under arrest in hospital, where he was being treated, officials say.
A giant plume of smoke reportedly rose over the area, about 10km (6.2 miles) north-east of the Mexican capital, after the blast, which happened at about 05:00 local time (10:00 GMT). 'War zone'
A giant plume of smoke rose over the area, about 14km (8.6 miles) north-east of the Mexican capital.
The gas tanker was thought to be travelling north when it crashed into another vehicle, BBC Mexico correspondent Will Grant reports.
At least 30 homes and 20 cars were damaged, according to local media.
Salvador Neme Sastre, secretary for citizen security in Mexico State, confirmed the casualty figures on Twitter but officials fear the number of dead could rise.
Some of the casualties were asleep in homes in poor areas along the edge of the road.
Television images showed firefighters and rescue workers sifting through the wreckage but there was no initial explanation as to what caused the crash.
The Mexican government announced measures in 2012 to lower the maximum allowed weight of freight vehicles after a series of crashes involving overloaded trucks.
However such accidents are still very common, our correspondent says.
Mexican media said the area resembled a "war zone," with nearby homes and cars completely burned out.
Dozens of ambulances were at the scene.
The highway was set to reopen gradually, officials said.
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