At least 15 people were burned to death inAmman on Wednesday after a petrol tanker overturned and caught fireduring morning rush-hour, trapping occupants inside their cars.
"The death toll has now risen to 15 and 20 people were injured,including three little girls," a civil defence source told journalists,after initially counting 12 dead.
Most of the victims were burned beyond recognition, the sourcesaid, adding that the death toll could still rise.
Interior Minister Koftan Majali immediately rushed to the sceneof the blaze, telling reporters that the incident "is not aterrorist work but an accident that can happen anywhere".
Majali put the death toll, however, at 11 and said that 11 otherpeople suffered burns when the truck overturned, spilling its fuel,which then ignited around some 20 cars.
The accident occurred when a small petrol tanker overturned on a downhill slope between the third circle areaof Amman and the city center, near a traffic light, where dozens ofcars were stopped.
According to Majali, the driver of the truck lost control of thevehicle and jumped out as it overturned, spilling its lethal contenton the street.
Witnesses told civil defence workers that the fuel caught fireand spread to cars waiting further down the hill, as well as thosepassing by or parked on the street.
The accident took place across the street from a tobacco factoryand down the hill from several five star hotels, foreign embassiesand ambassadorial residences.
A huge mushroom of black smoke billowed over the area and couldbe seen from different neighbourhoods in Amman, which is built onseven hills.
It caused alarm in the city, which has been on edge as Jordanhosted Wednesday in the southern Red Sea resort of Aqaba a historicsummit between US President George W. Bush and the Israeli andPalestinian prime ministers.
AFP