At least 73 dead in Mozambique after fuel truck explodes

At least 73 people were killed and scores injured in Mozambique on Thursday as they tried to siphon fuel from an overturned truck which exploded, the government said.

The truck was transporting fuel to Malawi from the port city of Beira and was near the border when the incident occurred, the government said in a statement.

The injured had been taken to hospital and a government team was due to travel to the area in Tete province, some 2,000 km (1,242 miles) from the capital, Maputo, on Friday.

Mozambique is one of the world’s poorest countries and struggles constantly with food shortages caused by drought.

Reuters