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Mexican President announced she had instructed the country’s energy secretary to develop stricter protocols for fuel transportation.
The explosion happened after a gas tanker truck erupted into flames (AP)
The death toll from a devastating gas tanker explosion in Mexico City continues to rise, with at least eight people confirmed dead and around 90 others injured, according to the Associated Press. The blast occurred on Wednesday in the densely populated Iztapalapa district, sending flames and debris across a busy highway and leaving behind a nightmarish scene of charred vehicles and severely burned survivors.
The explosion happened after a gas tanker truck erupted into flames beneath a highway overpass. The vehicle, reportedly carrying more than 13,000 gallons (49,500 liters) of liquefied gas, overturned, likely due to excessive speed, prosecutors said. The resulting fire engulfed over two dozen vehicles, some reduced to smoldering frames. Witnesses described a horrifying aftermath, with survivors wandering in the streets in tattered, burned clothing, many suffering second- and third-degree burns.
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Among the injured were a baby and a two-year-old child. Dozens were rushed to hospitals across the capital, where 67 people remain hospitalised, 22 of them in critical condition, Mexico City Mayor Clara Brugada confirmed on Thursday. Medical facilities have been overwhelmed, with families anxiously waiting outside emergency rooms for news of their loved ones.
The tanker bore the logo of Silza Transport, a gas distribution company. Initially, a Silza representative denied that the vehicle belonged to them. However, the company later issued a public statement acknowledging its involvement. Silza said it holds three valid insurance policies to cover the victims and damages, and added that it is working to support affected families.
Contradicting this, the federal agency for industrial safety in the hydrocarbon sector stated that Silza did not have up-to-date insurance documentation necessary to legally transport gas. A regulatory review is underway, as questions about liability and compliance mount.
In response to the tragedy, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum announced on Thursday that she had instructed the country’s energy secretary to develop stricter safety protocols for fuel transportation, though no specific measures have yet been outlined.
Mexico City, Mexico
September 12, 2025, 06:23 IST
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