Sunday, February 1, 2009
A dump truck loaded with gasoline exploded when hundreds of people were trying to seize fuel, in an incident which killed at least 111 people and 200 others were injured in one of the deadliest accidents in Kenya, reported Sunday the authorities.
Hundreds of people surrounded the truck overturned and blocked a road in the town of Molo on Saturday night when the fuel caught fire and caused an explosion whose blast was felt miles away, said Charles Kamau, 22, who fled his car when the flames rose to heaven.
"Everyone was screaming and ran many of them with fire in their bodies, some of them went into the woods," said Kamau to the Associated Press.
"I just ran to where there was no fire," said Kamau in a shop where the Red Cross reported Sunday on the disappearance of a friend.
The nearby hospitals were crowded full of victims, including young children, who suffered horrific burns. Many were lying on the floor, connected to the serum bottles and screaming in pain while doctors struggled to save their lives.
Through some supplies helicopters were sent to hospital, from bags for corpses and additional drugs.
Cars burned clothes and burned smudge the road, while the remains of the truck remained on the road to Molo, about 170 kilometers from Nairobi, the capital. Authorities were checking the woods in search of burned corpses.
The prime minister of Kenya, Raila Odinga told a press conference that apparently was a cigarette butt caused the explosion, but police still investigating the incident.
Labels: World News