Colombia: seven dead and 46 injured in tanker truck explosion

At least seven people were killed and 46 others injured Monday during the explosion of a tanker transporting fuel on a road in northern Colombia, according to local authorities.

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The explosion occurred when dozens of people approached to steal fuel from the truck that had overturned on the road between Barranquilla and Santa Marta, cities on the Caribbean coast, police said.

" We think there are about seven people who were burned down in this tragic accident, " said Fabian Ospino, mayor of Pueblo Viejo, the town where the accident occurred, in a video posted on social networks. . The police then confirmed in a statement the death toll of seven dead and 46 injured in the explosion.

The Caribbean coast is also one of the regions of Colombia most affected by the new coronavirus pandemic, while the country has to date 117,110 cases, including 4,064 deaths, since March 6. In some cities like Barranquilla, located 45 km from the accident, the health system is almost saturated.