TANZANIA: Authorities fear death toll may rise after tanker explosion claimed 60 lives

Authorities in Tanzania fear that the death toll arising from the tanker explosion in the Morogoro region of the country which claimed as much as 60 victims may rise.

Fears are on the increase as reports say many of the injured victims numbering up to 70 suffered severe burns after the incident which occurred about 200 km (124 miles) west of the port city of Dar es Salaam.

“The situation is really bad. Many people died here, even those who were not stealing fuel because this is a busy place,” said eyewitness Daniel Ngogo, quoted by Reuters news agency.

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Local Police Chief Willbrod Mtafungwa said many of those killed were motorbike taxi drivers.

The incident reportedly happened when people were trying to recover fuel from a tanker, which had overturned on a major road when the blast happened.

Pictures posted online show flaming wreckage scattered over a wide area and charred bodies lying on the ground.

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