DRC: several victims after the explosion of a tanker truck south-west of Kinshasa
A similar accident took place almost at the same place in 2018, DRC.
RFI / Patient Ligodi
Text by: Paulina Zidi Follow
1 min
In Kongo-Central, in the west of the DRC, the explosion of a tanker truck on the night of September 14 to 15 caused several victims.
A civil society official reports at least 15 dead, while the official report given by the governor of the province during the day mentions nine deaths and twenty seriously injured.
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The accident took place in two stages
" Wednesday evening, on the National 1 which connects the ports of Boma and Matadi to Kinshasa, explains the governor of the province.
“
A tank truck that was driving towards the capital overturned towards the commune of Mbuba
.
»
The truck remained in an accident for some time awaiting the intervention of a recovery vehicle.
Local residents took the opportunity to pick up the cargo.
Some of the gasoline
was siphoned off, but while there were still people around, the truck suddenly burst into flames, causing several casualties.
“
A stricter law
”
This is the second time that such an accident has occurred at the same location.
In 2018, a previous explosion of a tanker truck
had already claimed dozens of victims.
Proof for the governor, Guy Bandu, that the lessons have not yet been learned: "
For an event to repeat itself in the same place, we could evoke a few relative causes, in particular the state of the road itself, at the beyond the not always responsible behavior of drivers and other residents.
I think there is a reflection that needs to be taken a little further.
The regulations need to go further and
the law be more rigorous
.
»
The most seriously injured were taken to Kinshasa, when they could be transported.
Several people have serious burns, which makes authorities and emergency services fear a heavier toll.
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