Photo taken on Nov. 17, 2016 shows the injured after a tanker truck exploded in Tete province, Mozambique. At least 73 people were killed and dozens of people injured after a tanker truck exploded in northern Mozambique on Thursday, the government said. (Xinhua)
MAPUTO, Nov. 18 (Xinhua) -- Mozambique has created a commission to investigate a tanker truck explosion that killed 73 people and injured 110 others and provide necessary support.
The commission is headed by Minister of State Administration and Civil Servants Carmelita Namashulua, Minister of Transports and Communications Carlos Mesquita, deputy minister of health Mouzinho Saide and director of the Institute for Disaster Management Osvaldo Machatine.
The commission is expected to land in the Tete province, where the explosion happened, on Friday.
According to police authorities, the tragedy occurred on Thursday when the victims were trying to still oil from the truck soon after the driver of Malawian company parked the truck.
"All happened because the driver of the truck belonging to a Malawian company abandoned the road NR7 to the interior of the community, in the process of stilling fuel, the truck overheated and exploded," said Fabiao Nhancoloco, police provincial commandant.
About 43 people died at the scene and 40 others on their way to the provincial hospital. The injured had been rushed to a nearby hospital.
The tragedy occurred in a day when Tete province registered a maximum of 37 degrees Celsius.
