One killed, 66 reported injured in Turkish tanker truck explosion

A tanker truck carrying liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) on July 22 overturned and exploded on a highway in southeast Turkey, killing one and injuring at least 66 people.

The accident, which occurred early July 22, caused a large blast and a fireball that engulfed two passenger buses and other vehicles also traveling on the road near the town of Lice, around 150 kilometers north of the city of Diyarbakır.

A man identified as Fikri Tertip died in Diyarbakır’s Gazi Yaşargil Education and Research Hospital early in the morning.

It was reported that 20 of the injured are in serious condition due to burns on their body.

The Diyarbakır Public Prosecutor’s office has started an investigation into the accident.

The tanker truck driver, identified only as F.Y., lost control of the vehicle and overturned on the road at around midnight.

It took two hours for firefighters to bring the fire under control, Doğan News Agency reported.

Two buses also stopped and passengers helped F.Y. to escape the vehicle. F.Y. reportedly told the passengers that gas was leaking from the truck and warned them to stay away from it. However, at that point the explosion took place, wounding dozens. Flames from the truck also damaged two buses and a car.