Thu, 28 Mar 2024 Today's Paper

Over 200 killed in Congo

3 July 2010 11:34 am - 6     - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

A A A

A tanker truck filled with oil exploded and set fire to a village in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, killing at least 200 people and injuring scores more, the Red Cross said Saturday.

Flames engulfed dozens of earth and straw constructed homes after villagers, many of them children, crowded around the tanker which overturned.

Helicopters provided by the United Nations mission in the country evacuated injured villagers to hospital, officials said.

"So far, the accident has left 200 dead. It is a provisional toll. We have people on the spot and the search (for victims) is continuing," the Red Cross official in charge of Sud-Kivu province, Leonard Zigade told AFP.

A UN mission source told AFP on condition of anonymity that five Pakistani troops were among the dead, but this was denied by MONUSCO's spokesman Madnodje Mounoubai, who told AFP that no UN soldiers were among the victims.

A military source in MONUSCO's command said he had no reports of any victims from the peacekeeping mission and said verification was going on with units present in the zone.

Earlier local officials said at least 100 people had been killed, while a MONUSCO source gave a toll of "223 dead and 110 injured."

"What is certain is that the toll will get higher. It seems that what happened was truly horrible," the source said on condition of anonymity, adding that the search was still going on "for more charred bodies."

"A tanker truck coming from Tanzania overturned in the village of Sange. There was a crush (of people) and a petrol leak, there was an explosion of fuel oil which spread through the village," regional government spokesman Vincent Kabanga told AFP.

The village is located around 70 kilometres (40 miles) south of the Sud-Kivu county town of Bukavu, close to the border with Burundi.

Dozens of homes in Sange were caught in the blaze after the accident, which a police officer based in Bukavu said had been caused by the truck's "excessive speed."

The officer, who asked not to be named, added that many of those who surrounded the vehicle before it exploded were children.

He said the village was now "in total mourning. (AFP)

Order Gifts and Flowers to Sri Lanka. See Kapruka's top selling online shopping categories such as Toys, Grocery, Kids Toys, Birthday Cakes, Fruits, Chocolates, Clothing and Electronics. Also see Kapruka's unique online services such as Money Remittence,Astrology, Courier/Delivery, Medicine Delivery and over 700 top brands. Also get products from Amazon & Ebay via Kapruka Gloabal Shop into Sri Lanka

  Comments - 6

Order Gifts and Flowers to Sri Lanka. See Kapruka's top selling online shopping categories such as Toys, Grocery, Kids Toys, Birthday Cakes, Fruits, Chocolates, Clothing and Electronics. Also see Kapruka's unique online services such as Money Remittence,Astrology, Courier/Delivery, Medicine Delivery and over 700 top brands. Also get products from Amazon & Ebay via Kapruka Gloabal Shop into Sri Lanka
  • Musnad Sufian Saturday, 03 July 2010 02:58 PM

    Heart felt condolences

    citizen1 Saturday, 03 July 2010 03:07 PM

    Very sad that it is usually the poor that suffers these kinds of tragedies.

    Charlie Saturday, 03 July 2010 04:14 PM

    Where Erik Solheim is involved, always destructions.

    koneswaransaro Saturday, 03 July 2010 04:19 PM

    What a sad news.

    Shanil Samarakoon Saturday, 03 July 2010 10:50 PM

    Yes we get it , Norway are big conspirators behind every tragedy. I'm sure Solheim gets the blame when you trip over a step. Goodness sake.

    Practical Sunday, 04 July 2010 11:12 AM

    ... err ... did you not read? lots of innocent people have died and this is all you have to say? What if you are one of the 200?


Add comment

Comments will be edited (grammar, spelling and slang) and authorized at the discretion of Daily Mirror online. The website also has the right not to publish selected comments.

Reply To:

Name - Reply Comment





Order Gifts and Flowers to Sri Lanka. See Kapruka's top selling online shopping categories such as Toys, Grocery, Kids Toys, Birthday Cakes, Fruits, Chocolates, Clothing and Electronics. Also see Kapruka's unique online services such as Money Remittence,Astrology, Courier/Delivery, Medicine Delivery and over 700 top brands. Also get products from Amazon & Ebay via Kapruka Gloabal Shop into Sri Lanka

VAT increase: SOUNDs death knell for publishers, readers

Though the Government imposed VAT (Value Added Tax) on vegetables and other e

How female change-makers are driving Sri Lanka’s energy saving platform

Saving energy has become more of a responsibility than a habit in today’s c

A dull Ramadan awaits Muslims amidst the Soaring Cost of Living

In the coming days, Muslims across the world will welcome the Holy Month of R

New wildlife underpass to curtail HEC

As of February 2024, Sri Lanka lost another 38 elephants as a result of the H