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siphoning petrol from burst into flames following an accident in Sunningdale, Harare, on Saturday night.
Police suspect some people could have been burnt to ashes since there were many people draining fuel when the tanker exploded.
Some of the 16 fire victims were admitted at Harare Central Hospital where their condition is said to be critical.
EARLIER REPORT
By late last night, several people spoken to in Sunningdale said they were missing their relatives, an indication that more people could have died.
Harare Central Hospital principal nursing officer, Ms Lucia Godzongere, last night said: “The 13 people we admitted had serious burns and their condition is critical.”
A commuter omnibus and a private car were also reduced to shells as they caught fire after the explosion.
The occupants, however, escaped unhurt.
National Traffic police spokesperson Inspector Tigere Chigome, yesterday said the tanker burst into flames after an accident involving a private car along Boshoff Road.
“The haulage truck was heading towards Mbare along Boshoff Road and on approaching an intersection, there was a private car that intended to turn right.
“In a bid to avoid the car, the load of the haulage truck overturned.
“Fuel started gushing out and people who had come to witness realised the leakage and wanted to maximise on this,” he said.
He said the driver of the haulage truck warned the residents to stay away, but they did not take heed.
“A few minutes later, the tanker exploded resulting in three casualties.
“However, the number is not conclusive as we are continuing with investigations and there is a high probability that there could be some who were burnt to ashes.
“Some of the injured people could have been ferried to different hospitals,” he said.
Insp Chigome urged members of the public who suspect their relatives could have died in the inferno to inform the police. He appealed to people to desist from looting at accident scenes.
“This can be equated to stealing because there was no permission to take the fuel. It is illegal and dangerous to loot things at accident spots as you might end up looting hazardous substances,” he said.
When The Herald visited the scene yesterday evening, Sunningdale residents were still trying to come to terms with the tragic.
Witnesses said they believed several people died in the inferno.
“There were more than 20 people jostling to get the petrol and I was actually about to join in when the tanker exploded.
“The three who were identified are the ones who were on top of the tanker and were thrown metres away when it exploded,” said Mr Roddy Makumbe.
Others said they were trying to locate their relatives without success.
“I went to the hospital and there was no one and it is obvious that my brother is dead. He must be there in the ashes,” said one woman, sobbing.
Another woman added: “We came together with my neighbour holding our buckets and he went straight to the tanker while I wanted to monitor the situation first.
“That was the last time I saw him and relatives are looking for him.”
Local Government, Rural and Urban Development Minister Ignatius Chombo visited the scene yesterday.
Minister Chombo said: “This is disastrous and painful as more people might be ashes.
“As we convey our condolences, it is also important for drivers to exercise extreme caution because this is actually a result of reckless driving that can be curtailed.”
Also present at the scene were Minister Chombo’s permanent secretary, Mr Killian Mupingo, Harare town clerk Dr Tendai Mahachi, deputy mayor Clr Emmanuel Chiroto, Acting Harare Governor Mr Alfred Tome, senior Government officials and representatives from the Civil Protection Unit.
Meanwhile, four people died on the spot when a commuter omnibus they were travelling in veered off the road and overturned at the 75 km peg along the Harare-Bulawayo highway.
Insp Chigome said the driver of the Toyota Hiace, which had 21 occupants, tried to overtake a haulage truck.
The driver of the kombi attempted to avoid an oncoming vehicle and hit the trailer of the haulage truck.
“The commuter omnibus veered off the road and overturned. Four people died on the spot and the injured were taken to Chegutu Hospital including the driver,” he said.
He urged motorists to avoid overtaking without a clear vision of where they are going.
Online Reporter