Fuel tanker crash kills 50 in Congo

 

KINSHASA/MATADI, Democratic Republic of Congo (Reuters) - Around 50 people were killed and another 100 suffered serious burns after a fuel tanker collided with a vehicle in Democratic Republic of Congo on Saturday, a regional official said.

 

Deputy Governor of Kongo Central province, Atou Matubuana Nkuluki, said authorities were doing what they could to help victims of the crash in the village of Mbuta, about 130 km (80 miles) from the capital .

 

"We are mourning the death of a about 50 people. There are also about 100 people with second-degree burns," he said.

Roads in the central African nation are notoriously bad after years of war and neglect.

 

In 2010, at least 230 people were killed in Congo when a fuel tanker overturned and exploded, unleashing a fire ball that tore through homes and cinemas packed with people watching World Cup soccer.

 

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2018-10-07

You would think people would have long ago realized that when a tanker overturns and spills its load you should not rush to is to gather up the fuel but run in the other direction. These fireballs from overturned fuel trucks happen regularly in Africa. I shake my head.