By Adam Cailler,Megan Janetsky And Fernando Llano
Copyright dailystar
A gas tanker lorry exploded, setting multiple vehicles ablaze under a Mexico City motorway overpass on Wednesday, resulting in three fatalities and injuring 70 others. Some victims were left with their entire bodies charred, while others waited for help in the road with burns and torn clothing. The lorry, carrying more than 13,000 gallons (49,500 litres) of petrol, crashed on a major motorway, sending flames and smoke billowing over the south of the capital. Mayor Clara Brugada described the explosion as an “emergency” that incinerated nearly 30 vehicles and left 19 of those injured in critical condition, including the lorry driver. Among the injured were a baby and a 2 year old child. Brugada stated that prosecutors were investigating, but it seemed that the lorry exploded after it tipped over on the motorway. “This is a horrible accident,” the mayor said at the site of the explosion. The gas tanker, lying on its side, bore the logo of the energy business Silza, but a company official who did not want to be identified denied it was their vehicle in a call with The Associated Press. The company did not immediately respond to an email requesting for comment or more details. Later in the night, Mexico’s environmental ministry stated in a release that Silza didn’t have updated insurance paperwork required to transport gas because its application was rejected. Images shared online by authorities depicted a lorry engulfed in a towering inferno. Additional footage on social media captured the panic-stricken crowd fleeing from the blast. Individuals, their bodies seemingly entirely scorched, some with remnants of clothing fused to their skin, emerged from the flames. Others visible in the images had faces seared beyond recognition. As emergency vehicles raced past and medical personnel attended to the injured, groups of locals rushed to assist, pulling burn victims from the fire and guiding them to safety. Records of those injured indicated that some had suffered burns to up to 100% of their skin. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum extended her condolences to the families of the deceased in a post on X and expressed gratitude to the emergency teams for their efforts. After firefighters extinguished the blaze using hoses and foam, officials in Mexico City confirmed that the situation was “completely under control.” The explosion took place on one of the key routes leading out of the capital towards the city of Puebla. The road was reopened by evening. For the latest breaking news and stories from across the globe from the Daily Star, sign up for our newsletters .
