A fuel truck explosion outside of Kampala, the capital of Uganda, claimed eleven lives Tuesday, including two children, after the vehicle overturned and attracted scavengers seeking to collect spilled gasoline, police reported.
“The victims were burnt beyond recognition,” police spokesman Patrick Onyango said in a statement, as dark smoke billowed from the disaster scene near Kampala. Video footage captured by witnesses showed people attempting to collect fuel from the overturned truck moments before the devastating blast.
The tragedy mirrors a similar incident in Nigeria just last week that killed more than 140 people, highlighting a deadly pattern across Africa where desperate civilians risk their lives to collect spilled fuel for resale, despite repeated warnings from authorities.
“This tragic incident serves as a reminder of the risks associated with fuel tanker accidents and the importance of exercising caution when dealing with hazardous materials,” Onyango said, addressing the persistent challenge of preventing casualties at fuel spill sites.
The incident adds to a grim history of similar disasters across East Africa. In 2019, Tanzania lost 62 lives when people attempted to siphon fuel from a damaged truck, while South Sudan suffered an even deadlier incident in 2015, where 183 villagers perished while gathering around a fuel truck.
