Tanzania mourns 64 killed in fuel tanker explosion

Mourning is under way in Tanzania for the 64 people who died when a fuel tanker exploded on Saturday.

Pictures posted online show flaming wreckage scattered over a wide area and charred bodies lying on the ground.

People were trying to recover fuel from the vehicle, which had overturned on a major road, when it exploded.

The incident occurred in Morogoro region, about 200 km (124 miles) west of the port city of Dar es Salaam, the country's commercial capital.

The city of Morogoro is on a major route for transporting cargo and fuel from the port.

Some of the 70 people who were injured with serious burns were airlifted to Tanzania's biggest hospital, Muhimbili, in Dar es Salaam, while others were taken there in a convoy of ambulances.

Most of those who were killed were burned beyond recognition.

The burials are due to start later on Sunday, labour minister Jenister Mhagama said.

"The situation is really bad. Many people died here, even those who were not stealing fuel because this is a busy place," said eyewitness Daniel Ngogo, quoted by Reuters news agency.

Local Police Chief Willbrod Mtafungwa said many of those killed were motorbike taxi drivers.

President John Magufuli has declared the three days of mourning and pleaded for people to stop risking their lives by stealing petrol.

"There are vehicles that carry dangerous fuel oil, as in this case in Morogoro, there are others that carry toxic chemicals or explosives, let's stop this practice, please," AFP news agency quotes him as saying./BBC news