Pakistani Tanker Truck Explosion

On 25 June 2017, a tank truck exploded near Ahmedpur East in Pakistan's Bahawalpur District [south-central Punjab of Pakistan], killing at least 153 people and injuring more than 117 others. The truck overturned when its driver attempted to make a sharp turn on the N-5 National Highway. Once the news of the accident spread to nearby villages, hundreds of residents rushed to the scene to loot the truck of its fuel cargo. The explosion is believed to have been caused when someone lit a cigarette.

Accident

Around 06:00 local time (01:00 GMT), a tank truck carrying 40,000 litres (10,567 gallons) of fuel overturned as its tires burst while trying to make a sharp turn on N-5 National Highway near Ahmedpur East, Bahawalpur District, in Punjab, Pakistan. The truck was travelling from Karachi to Lahore.

The news of the accident quickly spread to the nearby village of Ramzanpur Joya, with villagers being alerted via a loudspeaker on top of a local mosque. A large number of people busy working in mango farms beside the road (one source estimated about 500), including women and children, subsequently gathered at the site to collect leaking petrol. The crowd ignored attempts by police to clear the area. About 10 minutes later, the truck exploded after leaked fuel from its damaged container caught fire killing at least 153 people and injuring more than 117 others. According to some media reports, the explosion occurred about 45 minutes after the initial truck crash.

Preliminary information indicates that the explosion resulted when someone tried to light a cigarette near the overturned tanker. It is also believed that a spark from the numerous cars and motorcycles that rushed to the scene ignited the fuel

Response

The motorway police suspended the traffic and set up two diversions, near Noorpur Nauranga and further ahead of Dera Nawaz. The Rescue 1122 and fire brigade arrived on the site of the incident immediately after the blaze started and rescue operations were initiated. Firefighters fought the blaze for over two hours before extinguishing the fire.

At least 90 of the victims were taken to District Headquarters Hospital and Bahawal Victoria Hospital in Bahawalpur. Pakistan Army helicopters were used to transfer 51 injured people from Bahawalpur to Nishtar Hospital in Multan.

Aftermath

Most bodies were burned beyond recognition, many down to their skeletons. At least six cars and 12 motorcycles were burnt in the explosion. The highway was littered with kitchen utensils, pots, water coolers, jerrycans and buckets of the victims. The driver of the fuel tanker survived the crash and was taken into custody.

Similar Catastrophic Events

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catastrophe_of_Sange

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Okobie_road_tanker_explosion

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ja%CA%BF%C4%81r_munitions_factory_explosion

Link for the article above regarding the Punjab incident: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2017_Bahawalpur_explosion