Oil truck explosion kills 146 people in Pakistan

[webfact]

Oil truck explosion kills 146 people in Pakistan

By Mubasher Bukhari

 

Burnt out cars and motorcycles are seen at the scene of an oil tanker explosion in Bahawalpur, Pakistan June 25, 2017. REUTERS/Stringer

 

LAHORE, Pakistan (Reuters) - An oil tanker crashed and exploded on a road in Pakistan on Sunday, killing 146 people, many of whom were collecting leaking fuel before it ignited, government officials and rescue workers said.

 

The speeding tanker overturned on a sharp bend on a highway on the outskirts of the city of Bahawalpur. The driver lost control when the vehicle blew a tire, a provincial government spokesman said.

 

A large crowd of people gathered, many to collect fuel in containers, and the tanker exploded in a huge fireball about 45 minutes later. Rescue workers said that about 80 people had been injured.

 

"People of the area and passers by had started gathering fuel when it exploded, burning everybody," provincial government spokesman Malik Muhammad Ahmed Khan told Reuters.

 

An estimated 20 children were among the dead, he said.

 

The accident happened the day before Pakistan celebrates the Eid al-Fitr festival, when families get together to celebrate the end of the fasting month of Ramadan.

 

Many bodies were burned beyond recognition and television pictures showed piles of burnt out motorcycles, apparently those of people who were collecting fuel or watching events unfold.

 

Police had tried to clear the area before the tanker exploded but people ignored them, Khan said, adding that the initial crash had blocked the road, causing a traffic tailback.

 

The driver of the tanker survived the accident and was taken into police custody, he said.

 

The explosion took place on a stretch of highway cutting through the village of Ramzan Joya.

 

Khalil Ahmed, a 57-year-old former government employee who lives in the village, said he had lost 12 relatives in the fire, which firefighters extinguished in two hours.

 

"One body has been recovered and 11 others are still missing," Ahmed said.

 

"After the spill, people began calling their relatives to come and gather the oil, and some showed up from nearby villages as well. There must have been 500 people gathered when the fire began."

 

Oil is a precious commodity for villagers in Pakistan, where more than 60 percent of the population survives on $3 a day, according to a World Bank survey.

 

"People were collecting oil in bottles, cans and household utensils. We tried to get them to move back before the fire started but no one was listening," Ahmed said.

 

He estimates that about 100 people from the small hamlet are missing.

 

"The day of judgment has arrived for our village," he said.

 

About 50 people were killed in bomb attacks in Pakistan on Friday but there was no suggestion of an attack on Sunday.

 

"According to initial reports, somebody tried to light a cigarette," said rescue services spokesman Jam Sajjad Hussain.

 

Police in the area could not be reached for immediate comment.

 

About 40 people with serious burns were airlifted to hospitals in the nearby city of Multan.

 

(Writing by Saad Sayeed; Editing by Robert Birsel and David Goodman)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2017-06-26

 

[canuckamuck]

Not oil, fuel. Oil doesn't easily explode.

Having been to Pakistan several times I can see this sort of thing happening. Mob mentality is nearly a default action. 

[Bill Miller]

3 hours ago, canuckamuck said:

Not oil, fuel. Oil doesn't easily explode.

Having been to Pakistan several times I can see this sort of thing happening. Mob mentality is nearly a default action. 

 My Thai friends speak of putting "oil" in their cars when they mean petrol.

Same as calling electric power "fire". 

I think they need to encourage hiring of more native English speaking teachers, not fewer.

[Stargeezr]

This mentality is not mob form, it is poor people who just do not get it about the dangers of standing in gasoline, when so many people there smoke and are stupid about that filthy habit, and that it is absolutely dangerous to light a match or lighter or any open flame where gasoline is near.  Another senseless tragedy. RIP especially the children.

Geezer

 

[Scott]

I suspect that most of these people are Muslim, but probably not all.   It is Ramadan and Muslims wouldn't be smoking during the fasting time.  

[PETERTHEEATER]

Under Islamic law, taking something which does not belong to you is stealing and punishable. Almighty Allah judged them and punished them yet I hear no cries of 'It is the will of Allah'

[AhFarangJa]

40 minutes ago, PETERTHEEATER said:

Under Islamic law, taking something which does not belong to you is stealing and punishable. Almighty Allah judged them and punished them yet I hear no cries of 'It is the will of Allah'

Inshallah......

[simple1]

17 hours ago, PETERTHEEATER said:

Under Islamic law, taking something which does not belong to you is stealing and punishable. Almighty Allah judged them and punished them yet I hear no cries of 'It is the will of Allah'

Media reports claim the local mosque broadcast the crash and locals rushed to the site to scavenge, when the fuel ignited the same mosque broadcast a call for rescuers.

 

A terrible preventable tragedy...

[Kiwiken]

Sadly fuel on ground. People standing in fuel with plastic containers. A spark from somewhere (battery, cigarette, or just friction) and boom! Sad but predictable.

Martyrs to poverty

[Ron19]

Off topic post with inappropriate comment has been removed.

[i claudius]

I was in Pakistan for a time .it was not a very nice place and the men were not very honest as we had many things stolen and the ladies were advised not to go out unacompanied as they were accosted by men so i am not surprised that they were trying to steal the petrol

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