Tanker truck overturns and explodes, killing 11 people

Eleven people, including two children, were killed when a petrol truck exploded outside Uganda's capital on Tuesday, police reported.

The fatal accident occurred after the truck overturned near a highway in a town just outside Kampala, causing a devastating explosion.

Describing the grim scene, police spokesman Patrick Onyango said: “The dead were burnt beyond recognition.” A thick cloud of smoke rose above the accident site as the community and authorities grappled with the aftermath of the tragedy.

Eyewitness footage posted online captured the moments before the explosion, showing people gathering around the overturned truck to catch leaking fuel. This dangerous behavior mirrors similar tragic incidents elsewhere in Africa.

In a separate incident last week, more than 140 people, including children, were killed when a tanker truck exploded in similar circumstances in Jigawa state, Nigeria.

Despite repeated warnings from authorities, people often rush to such accidents in the hope of collecting fuel that they can use or sell. This risky behavior continues to claim lives across the region as desperate people put themselves at risk. The video of the incident on Tuesday makes this danger clear: people approach the rubble shortly before the explosion.

Onyango in a statement highlighted the broader issue, drawing attention to the ongoing dangers of fuel tanker accidents.

“This tragic incident is a reminder of the risks associated with fuel tanker accidents and the importance of exercising caution when handling hazardous materials,” he said. The message resonates across East Africa, where similar disasters have occurred.

Newsweek Uganda Police emailed for comment.

There have been several fatal fuel-related accidents in East Africa in recent years. In 2019, at least 62 people died in Tanzania while trying to siphon fuel from a damaged truck.

The deadliest such incident occurred in South Sudan in 2015, where at least 183 people were killed after hundreds of villagers gathered around a fuel truck to collect the precious commodity.

Tuesday's explosion adds to the tragic legacy of tanker truck accidents in the region and is another grim reminder of the dangers inherent in fuel transportation and the desperate measures it can provoke.

As the death toll rises, authorities continue to urge communities to stay away from dangerous places. But given the economic hardship, such warnings often go unheeded.

This article contains reporting from The Associated Press