A gas tanker explosion at a ceramics factory in the Sudanese capital Khartoum killed at least 23 people and injured more than 130 people on Tuesday, reported Reuters.
Brigadier General Hassan Abdullah, northern Khartoum’s Bahri district police director, told Reuters that six of the wounded were in critical condition. The casualties include workers from various nationalities including some Asian countries.
According to the witnesses, the tanker exploded while a shipment was being unloaded at the factory. They revealed that the blast was so powerful that it blew the tanker into a nearby lot.
“A fire erupted in an industrial area because of which 23 people were killed and more than 130 injured,” the statement released by the Sudanese government said. “A blast in a gas tanker triggered the fire.”
“Preliminary observations indicate a lack of necessary safety measures and equipment at the factory, in addition to random storage of flammable materials,” the statement continued.
The government appealed the citizens to donate blood to treat the wounded and expressed its “deepest condolences” to the families of victims.
The doctor’s committee said many of those injured needed emergency care and called on their colleagues who were off-duty to immediately return to the hospitals to help treat the burn victims.
The state media said the blast had led to major loss of life and property, and that a rescue operation was ongoing.
Hussein Omar, a volunteer at the scene, said he pulled out 14 bodies that were completely burnt.
The cause of the fire is not yet known. In recent months, there have been various industrial accidents in Sudan, which has raised concerns about the adequacy of health and safety regulations. A fire caused partial damage to the presidential palace in Khartoum earlier this year.
