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| Deadly gas tanker explosion in Mexico City suburb | Deadly gas tanker explosion in Mexico City suburb |
| (about 9 hours later) | |
| A gas tanker has exploded on a motorway in a suburb of Mexico City, killing at least 20 people and injuring 36, officials say. | A gas tanker has exploded on a motorway in a suburb of Mexico City, killing at least 20 people and injuring 36, officials say. |
| Television images showed damaged buildings and cars in the area of Ecatepec on Tuesday morning. | Television images showed damaged 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. | The explosion happened at about 05:00 local time (10:00 GMT) on the highway between Mexico City and Pachuca. |
| The driver of the truck is under arrest in hospital, where he was being treated, officials say. | The driver of the truck is under arrest in hospital, where he was being treated, officials say. |
| 'War zone' | 'War zone' |
| A giant plume of smoke rose over the area, about 14km (8.6 miles) north-east of the Mexican capital. | 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. | 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. | 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 still rise. | Salvador Neme Sastre, secretary for citizen security in Mexico State, confirmed the casualty figures on Twitter but officials fear the number of dead could still rise. |
| Some of the casualties were asleep in homes in poor areas along the edge of the road. Children were among those hurt. | Some of the casualties were asleep in homes in poor areas along the edge of the road. Children were among those hurt. |
| Television images showed firefighters and rescue workers sifting through the wreckage, but there was no initial explanation as to what caused the crash. | 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. | 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. | 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. | Mexican media said the area resembled a "war zone," with nearby homes and cars completely burned out. |
| "It was a ball of fire," resident Carlos Gonzalez Silva told local radio, according to Reuters. | "It was a ball of fire," resident Carlos Gonzalez Silva told local radio, according to Reuters. |
| "We opened the door and it was like fire had blown through the whole of the garden." | "We opened the door and it was like fire had blown through the whole of the garden." |
| Mexican radio station Formato 21 said a family of four, including two children aged 11 and 6, were among the dead. | Mexican radio station Formato 21 said a family of four, including two children aged 11 and 6, were among the dead. |
| Dozens of ambulances were at the scene. | Dozens of ambulances were at the scene. |
| The highway was set to reopen gradually, officials said. | The highway was set to reopen gradually, officials said. |