TANKER TRUCK BLAST IN CAPITA L KILLS 6, WOUNDS 46 OTHERS

A fuel tanker exploded during a traffic accident in the centre of Mali’s capital Bamako on Tuesday, killing six and badly wounding 46 others, an emergency response official said. The tanker swerved to avoid a motorcycle, lost control, fell on its side and exploded, a witness told Reuters. The flames engulfed onlookers who ran to put themselves out in nearby ditches, he said. Photos of the scene circulating online showed a wide column of black smoke rising into the sky, and a line of charred motorcycles and cars. “We found several people burned and the tank was knocked down when we arrived on the scene. At the moment, we have 46 seriously injured and six killed, over 30 motorcycles, a pickup and a goods vehicle burned,” said Lt.- Gen. Diarra, director general of civil protection of Bamako District.