At least eleven people lost their lives on Tuesday afternoon when a fire erupted as they attempted to siphon fuel from an overturned tanker in Kigogwa Town along the Kampala-Bombo road. The incident took place around 3 pm when a fuel tanker, traveling from Kampala to Gulu, overturned after the driver lost control.
In the aftermath of the crash, locals hurried to collect fuel from the tanker, unaware of the imminent danger. The fire soon broke out, with those closest to the tanker suffering the most severe consequences. Among the victims were nine adults and two minors, all of whom were killed at the scene.
The blaze also destroyed four buildings, including nine shops, along with property worth millions of shillings. Several individuals sustained injuries and were quickly transported to nearby health facilities for medical attention.
Authorities remained at the scene to investigate and determine the full extent of the casualties. The incident occurred just a week after a similar tragedy in Nigeria, where over 150 people died in a fuel siphoning accident. This serves as a stark reminder of the dangers posed by fuel tanker accidents and the importance of exercising extreme caution