22 confirmed dead in oil tanker explosion in Uganda

At least 22 people have been confirmed dead in a Sunday evening fuel tanker explosion in the western Ugandan district of Rubirizi, a police spokesperson said on Monday.

Marshal Tumusiime, Great Bushenyi regional police spokesperson, told Xinhua by telephone that the joint rescue teams recovered 17 bodies burnt beyond recognition and 5 others who were identified from the scene of the accident at Kyambura trading center along the Mbarara-Kasese highway.

"The operation is done. We have retrieved 22 bodies. We don't expect more bodies at the scene of the accident," said Tumusiime.

"We are not certain of the number of those people still alive since they were taken to different hospitals for treatment," he said.

The police spokesperson said the 17 severely burnt bodies have been transported to the capital, Kampala for DNA tests to help in the identification process before being handed to relatives for burial.

The five identified deceased have been handed to their relatives for burial.

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. 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.