Three dead, 70 injured in Mexico City oil tanker explosion
On Wednesday, September 10, an oil tanker explosion occurred in the eastern part of Mexico City, resulting in three deaths and 70 injuries, with 19 of them seriously wounded. The cause of the explosion is currently unknown.
The Mayor of Mexico City, Clara Brugada, stated at a press conference held at the scene that the explosion took place near the Puente de la Concordia, a busy highway. All the injured have been taken to nearby hospitals for treatment, with 19 of them suffering second and third-degree burns.
Brugada mentioned that the explosion also led to the destruction of 18 nearby vehicles. She described the incident as an “emergency.”
“This is a terrible accident. Prosecutors are investigating the cause, but it appears the tanker exploded after overturning on the highway,” she said at the scene.
Footage from the scene shows the involved oil tanker engulfed in flames, overturned on the road, with firefighters working hard to control the blaze. Some of the injured, their clothing charred, were seen screaming as they fled the area.
Reports indicate that the thick smoke from the fire spread to a nearby tram station. Trams are one of the main modes of transport in this city of 9.2 million residents.
The Mexico City Fire Department stated that the firefighters have managed to extinguish the fire, but they are still dealing with the leakage from the oil tanker. It is estimated that there are still around 20,000 liters of gasoline inside the tanker. Prior to the accident, the tanker was carrying nearly 50,000 liters of gasoline.