SAN FRANCISCO, June 25, (THEWILL) – Over 100 people have died and another 100 injured after an overturned oil tanker caught fire.
The tragedy, at the Ahmad Sharqia area of Bahawalpur in Pakistan on Sunday morning, occurred as a crowd attempted to scoop fuel from the tanker which exploded.
Dozens of motorbikes and cars passing by were caught in the fire.
The dead bodies and injured are being shifted to Victoria Hospital of Bahawalpur and emergency has been declared in the hospital, said a local newspaper reported.
The wards in the hospital are being vacated for the injured.
Pakistan’s Dawn newspaper said the fire brigade arrived on the site of the incident shortly after the blaze started and rescue operations were initiated.
Two fire engines battled the fire and eventually gained control over it.
At least six cars and 12 motorcycles were burnt in the blaze.
The injured were transferred to District Headquarters Hospital and Bahawal Victoria Hospital, rescue officials said.
Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa ordered the army to assist the civil administration in the rescue efforts.
“COAS expresses grief on losses in oil tanker incident,” Director General of the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), Major Gen Asif Ghafoor, said in a tweet.
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