Uganda: A fuel tanker left 15 people dead and 24 injured
Fire Fighters Treating the Accident, Oct 22, 2024 Photo: Rise News Uganda
October 23, 2024 Hour: 4:30 pm
A fuel tanker traveling yesterday Tuesday from Kampala to the northern city of Gulu about 400 kilometers away, overturned after an accident and later exploded killing at least 15.
Related:
Uganda: Food Security Through South-South Cooperation with China, FAO
According to Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesman Patrick Onyango on social media “Tragedy struck Kigogwa town along the Kampala-Bombo highway yesterday. The devastating accident left 24 injured and 15 people dead, with 11 reported dead on the spot and four more reported dead today, Wednesday.”
“The victims suffered burns that made them unrecognizable,” Onyango lamented, adding that a response team responded “quickly.”
The accident took place at around 3:00 p.m. (local time) and the people “most affected” were those who “rushed to get fuel from the truck.” The fire also destroyed four buildings housing nine shops. “Properties worth millions of shillings were lost,” the police added.
The injured were rushed to nearby health facilities for treatment.
The police spokesman said, “This tragic incident serves as a reminder of the risks associated with fuel tanker accidents and the importance of taking care when handling hazardous materials.”
Road accidents in Uganda are common, and the East African country has one of the highest road accident rates in the world with 29 deaths per 100,000 people, according to World Bank data.
Autor: OSG
Fuente: EFE-Africanews
