Fuel Truck Blast in South Sudan Kills at Least 85 People

Fuel Truck Blast in South Sudan Kills at Least 85 People

At least 85 people were killed in South Sudan when a crowd tried to gather fuel from a transport truck that had veered off the road on its way to a region west of the capital Juba, the presidential spokesman said according to Afp.

Prevously The Guardian reported that the death toll was 182, citting a regional official.

The incident took place on Wednesday as the truck was travelling to South’s Sudan’s Western Equatoria region.

“Eight-five people are confirmed dead by the local authorities,” Ateny Wek Ateny, presidential spokesman, told Reuters, adding that about 50 people were seriously injured.

Such incidents have happened before in a region where fuel tankers often have to travel long distances along potholed roads and pass through poor communities.

There are almost no tarmac roads in South Sudan, one of Africa’s poorest nations, which has been mired in conflict since December 2013. Rebels and the government signed a peace deal in August, although the ceasefire has already been violated.

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