wildcard
3rd July 2010, 10:34 PM
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/world/2010-07/04/c_13382915.htm
Fuel tanker explosion in DR Congo kills 230, injures nearly 200
KINSHASA, July 3 (Xinhua) -- At least 230 people have been killed and nearly 200 others injured after a fuel tanker truck overturned and burst into flames in a blast. The flames engulfed dozens of residences and several crowded makeshift cinemas in a village in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo), officials said Saturday.
The accident took place late Friday in the village of Sange, on the border with Burundi, when the tanker truck from Tanzania burst into fire shortly after it overturned and began to leak oil.
Flames spread to dozens of earthen and straw houses and several flimsy roadside shacks, where scores of villagers were watching World Cup TV coverage.
"People tried to escape but were caught by the fire and reduced to ashes," said Tondo Sahizira, a local teacher.
"When we arrived in Sange at about noon, we were already up to 230 dead. In our presence, three more bodies were added. We are therefore at more than 230 dead and 105 injured," Marcellin Cishambo, Governor of Sud-Kivu province, where the incident took place, said Saturday.
"Our latest numbers are 230 dead and 196 injured," Madnodje Mounoubai, a spokesman for the UN mission, told reporters.
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/world/2010-07/04/13382915_101n.jpg
UN Peacekeepers and medics stand beside the bagged bodies of victims of an oil tanker explosion in Sange, Democratic Republic of Congo. A fuel truck exploded and set fire to a village in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, killing more than 230 people and injuring scores, officials and local residents said Saturday.
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/world/2010-07/04/13382915_111n.jpg
The burnt-out wreckage of an oil tanker lies on its side following an explosion in Sange, Democratic Republic of Congo. A fuel truck exploded and set fire to a village in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, killing more than 230 people and injuring scores, officials and local residents said Saturday.
A spokesman from the Congolese Red Cross said among the dead were 61 children and 36 women.
On Saturday charred bodies beyond recognition, some covered with white shrouds, still littered the streets of the once densely populated village, while UN helicopters began airlifting injured people to hospital and Congolese army also sent soldiers to help in with the rescue.
Red Cross workers wearing masks over their faces carried corpses away on stretchers to bury them in two mass graves a few kilometers away.
"It's a terrible scene. There are lots of dead bodies on the streets. The population is in terrible shock -- no one is crying or speaking," Jean-Claude Kibala, vice governor of South Kivu province said on the site Saturday.
Reports say the truck overturned as it was trying to pass a minibus on the bumpy road near Sange late Friday. The driver was injured in the accident and taken to a local clinic before the blast occurred.
Fuel tanker explosion in DR Congo kills 230, injures nearly 200
KINSHASA, July 3 (Xinhua) -- At least 230 people have been killed and nearly 200 others injured after a fuel tanker truck overturned and burst into flames in a blast. The flames engulfed dozens of residences and several crowded makeshift cinemas in a village in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo), officials said Saturday.
The accident took place late Friday in the village of Sange, on the border with Burundi, when the tanker truck from Tanzania burst into fire shortly after it overturned and began to leak oil.
Flames spread to dozens of earthen and straw houses and several flimsy roadside shacks, where scores of villagers were watching World Cup TV coverage.
"People tried to escape but were caught by the fire and reduced to ashes," said Tondo Sahizira, a local teacher.
"When we arrived in Sange at about noon, we were already up to 230 dead. In our presence, three more bodies were added. We are therefore at more than 230 dead and 105 injured," Marcellin Cishambo, Governor of Sud-Kivu province, where the incident took place, said Saturday.
"Our latest numbers are 230 dead and 196 injured," Madnodje Mounoubai, a spokesman for the UN mission, told reporters.
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/world/2010-07/04/13382915_101n.jpg
UN Peacekeepers and medics stand beside the bagged bodies of victims of an oil tanker explosion in Sange, Democratic Republic of Congo. A fuel truck exploded and set fire to a village in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, killing more than 230 people and injuring scores, officials and local residents said Saturday.
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/world/2010-07/04/13382915_111n.jpg
The burnt-out wreckage of an oil tanker lies on its side following an explosion in Sange, Democratic Republic of Congo. A fuel truck exploded and set fire to a village in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, killing more than 230 people and injuring scores, officials and local residents said Saturday.
A spokesman from the Congolese Red Cross said among the dead were 61 children and 36 women.
On Saturday charred bodies beyond recognition, some covered with white shrouds, still littered the streets of the once densely populated village, while UN helicopters began airlifting injured people to hospital and Congolese army also sent soldiers to help in with the rescue.
Red Cross workers wearing masks over their faces carried corpses away on stretchers to bury them in two mass graves a few kilometers away.
"It's a terrible scene. There are lots of dead bodies on the streets. The population is in terrible shock -- no one is crying or speaking," Jean-Claude Kibala, vice governor of South Kivu province said on the site Saturday.
Reports say the truck overturned as it was trying to pass a minibus on the bumpy road near Sange late Friday. The driver was injured in the accident and taken to a local clinic before the blast occurred.