Mali: at least 7 dead, nearly 50 injured in tanker truck explosion

At least 7 people were killed and nearly 50 injured in a tanker truck explosion in Bamako, Mali Tuesday.

The government said a tanker truck carrying 14,000 liters of fuel was lying on its side for an unknown reason near a gas station and a hotel in the afternoon.

Eyewitnesses said as people attempted to lift the truck, the explosion occured.

Communication Minister and government’s spokesman, Yaya Sangaré told AFP ‘’ the provisional record shows seven dead and 46 wounded as a result of burns “.

The government said 42 injured persons were taken to the Gabriel Touré University Hospital and 4 to the Mali hospital in Bamako.

The deceased were transported to the “Center de Santé Reference of Quartier- Mali”, the government added.

The communication ministry said relief operations continued for several hours and area where the accident occured was condoned off.

AFP