WINDHOEK, Aug. 10 (Xinhua) -- Namibian president Hage Geingob on Saturday extended his condolences to Tanzania following a fuel tanker accident in Tanzania that claimed the lives of about 60 people, and injured more than 70 people.
In a statement, Geingob said Southern African Development Community (SADC) sympathizes and remains in solidarity with the government and the people of the United Republic of Tanzania during this painful and sad moment.
"On behalf of the SADC member states and indeed on my own behalf, we wish to express our deepest condolences to president John Pombe Joseph Magufuli, the government and the people of the United Republic of Tanzania, and the families of the deceased. This is a loss not only to Tanzania, but to the SADC region as a whole," he said.
The explosion occurred on the outskirts of Morogoro, a town about 200 km west of Dar es Salaam earlier on Saturday after a crowd had gathered around the tanker, which had crashed.
Many of those killed and injured had been siphoning petrol from the vehicle when it burst into flames, according to police and witnesses.
"We wish all Tanzanians courage and strength as the Country faces this big loss. May I on behalf all SADC Member States convey our words of sympathy and support to all the bereaved families, and may the souls of the departed rest in eternal peace," Geingob said.
