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The accident occurred when the truck fell off the road it was traveling on Sunday morning, Mohammad Akhtar a police official with the city of Bahawalpur told CNN.
Villagers had gathered around the vehicle to collect its oil in containers when the vehicle exploded, Akhtar said. Many were covered in oil and burned and an emergency had been declared in the city, he said.
Punjab government spokesman Salman Sufi said that at least 120 people had been killed and 130 others injured in the explosion.
Bahawalpur’s Victoria Hospital said it was treating 40 of the injured, all of whom had suffered 70% burns.
“(An) emergency has been declared in the hospital and we are treating the patients. At least 15 are critical at the moment,” Dr. Faqeer told CNN.
Pakistan Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif “expressed deep grief over the heavy loss of life,” his office said.
“The Prime Minister has directed provincial government to provide full medical assistance to the injured with burns,” it said. “The Prime Minister has expressed sympathies with the bereaved families and prayed for the departed souls.”
An inquiry would be held into the incident, the Chief Minister of Punjab said in a statement.
“CM Punjab Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif has expressed deep sense of sorrow and grief over the loss of precious human lives in the tragic incident of oil tanker near Ahmad Pur Sharqiyya Bahawalpur.
“CM expressed sympathy and condolence with the bereaved families and directed the administration to provide best medical facilities to the injured persons. CM also sought report of the incident and ordered to hold inquiry of the incident,” the statement said.
Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff (COAS) had directed the provision of full assistance to the civil administration in the relief effort, Armed Forces spokesman Major General Asif Chafoor said on Twitter.
COAS expresses grief on losses in oil tanker incident. Directed provision of full assistance to civil admn in rescue/relief effort (1 of 2).
— Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor (@OfficialDGISPR) 25 июня 2017 г.
Army Aviation helicopters sent for evacuation of casualties to hospitals / burn centres. Hospitals placed on high alert. (2 of 2).
— Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor (@OfficialDGISPR) 25 июня 2017 г.
Army aviation helicopters had been sent for the evacuation of casualties to hospitals and burn centers, Ghafoor said. He added that hospitals had been placed on high alert.
