A gas tanker truck explosion in southern Mexico City has killed three people and injured at least 70 others, authorities confirmed. The blast, which occurred beneath a highway overpass on Wednesday, sent flames and thick black smoke towering over the capital.
The truck was carrying more than 49,500 liters of gasoline when it tipped over on the highway, sparking an inferno that engulfed nearly 30 vehicles, according to Mexico City Mayor Clara Brugada. She described the incident as a major emergency for the city.
Nineteen of the injured remain in critical condition, including the truck’s driver. Victims include a baby and a two-year-old child, underscoring the severity of the tragedy. Emergency crews rushed to the scene, battling the fire and rescuing those trapped in cars while evacuating nearby residents.
Brugada said prosecutors have launched an investigation into the cause of the crash and explosion. Early indications suggest the vehicle overturned before igniting, but officials stressed that a full inquiry is underway.
The explosion marks one of the most severe urban fuel-related disasters in Mexico City in recent years, raising renewed concerns over highway safety and hazardous material transport in densely populated areas.
–Input WAM
