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The crash of the truck carrying more than 13,000 gallons (49,500
liters) of gasoline on a major highway sent flames and smoke
billowing over the south of the capital.
Mayor Clara Brugada called the explosion an “emergency” that
burned nearly 30 vehicles and left 19 of those injured in grave
condition, including the driver of the truck. Among those
injured were a baby and a 2-year-old child.
Brugada said prosecutors were investigating, but it appeared
that the truck exploded after it tipped over on the highway.
“This is a horrible accident,” the mayor said at the site of the
explosion.
The gas tanker laying on its side had the logo of the energy
business Silza on its side, but in a call with The Associated
Press a company official who did not want to be identified
denied it was their vehicle. The company did not immediately
respond to an email requesting for comment or more details.
Later in the night, Mexico’s environmental ministry said in a
statement that Silza didn’t have updated insurance paperwork
required to transport gas because it’s application was rejected.
Images circulated online by authorities showed a mass of flames
mushrooming from a truck. Others on social media show dozens of
people screaming and running from the explosion.
People whose entire bodies appeared to have been burned, some
with tattered clothing melded onto skin, emerged from the
flames. Others in the images had burned-off faces.
As emergency vehicles sped by and medics attended to the
wounded, groups of neighbors ran helped pull burn victims from
the fire and get them to safety.
Lists of those injured showed some had up to 100% of their skin
burned off.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum expressed her condolences to
families of those who died in a post on X and thanked emergency
teams for their work.
After fire teams snuffed out the flames with hoses and foam,
Mexico City officials announced the flames were “completely
under control."
The explosion occurred on one of the most important roadways
flowing out of the capital on the way to the city of Puebla. The
roadway was reopened by evening.
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