KAMPALA, Aug. 19 (Xinhua) -- At least nine bodies have been retrieved after a fuel tanker exploded in the western Ugandan district of Rubirizi on Sunday evening, a police spokesperson said here on Monday.
Police spokesperson Fred Enanga said in a statement that the nine burnt bodies have been transported to Lugazi Health Centre for post-mortem analysis and DNA profiling.
He said another body was still trapped beneath the oil tanker and could not be retrieved in the cover of darkness.
"The scene remains closed overnight and the operation continues early morning to search for more bodies, establish the number of victims injured, since they were rushed to different health facilities and also establish the cause of the accident," said Enanga.
"We urge relatives who could have lost their loved ones to visit the health center and avail samples for DNA profiling, better identification and matching of the deceased persons," he said.
The accident occurred after the petrol tanker from the western town of Mbarara lost control and rammed into two commuter taxis and a saloon car at Kyambura trading center, along the Kasese-Mbarara Highway. The tanker burst into flames, killing several people instantly.
Police said a stream of liquid fire from the fuel also burnt about 25 small shops over a stretch of more than 30 meters.
Nearly 90 people were killed in neighboring Tanzania on Aug. 10 after a petrol tanker exploded in Morogoro region, about 200 km from the commercial capital Dar es Salaam.
