123 burn to death in Pakistan oil tanker fire
At least 123 people have been killed in an horrific crash on a Pakistan highway after an oil tanker rolled and exploded into flames, a rescue official says.
Rizwan Naseer, the head of the Punjab province’s rescue services, said 123 people were killed and another 76 were wounded, with many suffering serious burns.
Pakistani Geo News reported that the incident happened in the Pul Paka district in the Pakistani city of Bahawalpur on Sunday after crowds of people gathered to collect fuel leaking from a tanker that had overturned in an accident on the National Highway.
Unconfirmed reports suggest the tanker had been speeding when it overturned.
People smoking at the scene may have sparked the fire, Pakistan’s Geo TV reports, quoting eyewitnesses.
Fire brigade vehicles arrived at the site soon after the explosion and rescue operations were under way, the sources told Al Jazeera.
بہاولپور آئل ٹینکر لیک ہوا
لوگ تیل اکھٹا کرنے آ گئے تو اچانک ٹینکر پھٹ گیا
123 افراد موقع پے جلس کر اللہ کو پیارے ہو گئے 😐😓 pic.twitter.com/IHXUFco3ov— ویکسینیٹڈ قلندر شریف (@WishMaster_0) June 25, 2017
It has been reported that over 70 motorcycles and a number of cars were also been destroyed in the blaze.
Geo TV Pakistan reports that the fire is now under control.
Local news outlets report that the bodies have been burned beyond recognition. DNA tests will be required to identify the deceased.
Prime minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif has expressed deep grief over the heavy loss of life in the unfortunate accident of oil tanker fire at Ahmad Pur Sharqia, Bahawalpur.
#UPDATED: 30 killed, 75 injured when overturned #OilTanker catches #fire near Ahmedpur Sharqia in #Bahawalpur https://t.co/gBYeml0mzb pic.twitter.com/24v7tFX5fV
— Radio Pakistan (@RadioPakistan) June 25, 2017
