Chile Tanker Explosion in Santiago Kills 4, Injures 17 After Gas Truck Overturns
By Web Desk :
At least four people have been killed and 17 injured after a tanker truck carrying liquid gas overturned on a major highway in the Chilean capital, Santiago, triggering a massive explosion and a toxic gas cloud.
Horrifying footage captured the moment the vehicle lost control, struck a barrier in the Renca district on Thursday local time, and burst into flames. The driver was among those killed in the conflagration.
Motorists on the busy highway could be seen trying in vain to escape a fast-spreading grey gas cloud that engulfed a large swathe of the roadway. Moments later, the cloud ignited into a massive fireball, turning a CTV camera’s field of view orange and black before the footage cut out.
The thunderous explosion was felt within a radius of up to 200 meters and destroyed at least 50 vehicles, according to firefighters.
Governor of the Santiago Metropolitan Region, Claudio Orrego, provided an update on the casualties, stating that five of the wounded remain in serious condition in hospital. “One has burns covering 100 per cent of their body with imminent risk to their life,” Mr Orrego told media.
The tanker belonged to local gas company Gasco. Authorities have launched an investigation into the cause of the crash, though initial reports suggest the driver may have lost control of the vehicle prior to the incident.
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