Chile’s capital Santiago witnessed a tragic accident when a lorry carrying liquid gas exploded in the Rinca district in the north of the city, killing at least five people and injuring 17 others, several of them in critical condition with severe burns.
The accident occurred on the General Velasquez Highway when the truck driver lost control of the vehicle, which crashed into a concrete safety barrier before overturning, causing a gas leak and a large explosion, followed by a heavy fire.
General Victor Vielma, head of the Carabineros police’s traffic and road security district, acknowledged at a press conference that the explosion caused a massive wave of fire that blanketed roads and sent thick black smoke into the sky, causing panic among residents and paralyzing traffic in the northern industrial area.
He added that five victims, including the truck driver, either died in direct collision or were burned inside the vehicle, while 17 others were taken to hospital, most with severe burns, adding that the number of victims is feared to rise as the investigation progresses.
Officials confirmed that more than 50 cars were completely or partially damaged, most of them charred in parking lots and warehouses adjacent to the highway due to a “flyaway” phenomenon.
Initial reports from the fire brigade said the fire spread to nearby industrial facilities and warehouses, including a parking lot and a vehicle dismantling company, requiring the intervention of 25 fire brigade teams to bring it under control for hours while cooling the truck’s tank to prevent further explosions.
Due to the high volume of industrial and commercial truck traffic in Chile, accidents related to the transportation of hazardous materials such as liquid gases occur frequently in Chile, especially on busy highways in urban areas such as Santiago. Liquefied petroleum gas is considered one of the most dangerous substances in the event of a leak because it evaporates quickly and forms an explosive cloud when ignited.
Several similar accidents resulting in significant human and property losses have been recorded in the country in recent years, and although authorities have tightened controls over truck maintenance and driver training, investigations often point to factors such as excessive speed, fatigue and technical failures as the main causes.
A horrifying incident in Chile’s capital Santiago occurred when a truck carrying liquid gas exploded in the Renca district in the north of the city, killing at least five people and injuring 17 others, several of whom are in critical condition with severe burns.
The incident occurred on the Velázquez General Highway, where the truck driver lost control of the vehicle for reasons still under investigation and hit a concrete safety barrier before overturning, causing a gas leak and a massive explosion, followed by a heavy fire.
General Victor Vialma, head of traffic and traffic safety for the Carabineros police, admitted at a press conference that the explosion caused a huge wave of fire that blanketed roads and sent thick black smoke into the sky, causing panic among residents and paralyzing traffic in the northern industrial area.
He said five victims, including the truck driver himself, died from direct impact or burns inside the vehicle, and 17 others were taken to hospital, most with severe burns, adding that the death toll could rise as the investigation progresses.
Officials confirmed that more than 50 vehicles were completely or partially damaged, most of them charred in a “fireball” phenomenon in parking lots and warehouses adjacent to the highway.
Initial reports from the fire brigade said the fire spread to nearby industrial facilities and warehouses, including an auto repair shop and a vehicle dismantling company, requiring the intervention of 25 fire brigade units to control the blaze over an extended period of time, while cooling the truck’s tank to prevent further explosions.
Due to the high traffic density of industrial and commercial trucks in Chile, accidents related to the transportation of hazardous materials such as liquid gases occur repeatedly, especially on busy highways in urban areas such as Santiago. Liquefied petroleum gas is considered one of the most dangerous substances in the event of a leak because it evaporates quickly and forms an explosive cloud when ignited.
Authorities have stepped up oversight of truck maintenance and driver training after several similar accidents resulting in significant human and property losses have been recorded in the country in recent years, although investigations often point to factors such as overspeeding, fatigue and technical failures as the main causes.
