First three deaths reported in Mexico City and 70 injured from explosion
Authorities said the explosion generated a shock wave that affected nearby vehicles and people in the area
Mexico City Mayor Clara Brugada announced the death of three people and updated the number of injured to 70 after the explosion of a gas truck with a capacity of 49,500 liters in the east of the metropolis.
In addition, the president of Mexico, Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo, issued a message after the explosion, "We express our solidarity and support to the families of three people who unfortunately died and those injured, resulting from the explosion of a tanker truck in Iztapalapa."
"The National Coordination of Civil Protection, the National Guard, the Ministry of Defense, and the hospital network of the Government of Mexico are collaborating with the head of government, Clara Brugada, and the authorities of Mexico City to assist those affected," she continued.
For her part, Brugada also reported 28 affected vehicles and stated that the investigations carried out by the capital's Prosecutor's Office are underway.
"So far we have the following results: 70 injured people who were transferred to different hospitals, 51 men and 16 women. Of these seventy injured people, unfortunately, we report that three people died and we have two people who are unknown," Brugada stated.
Given the concern and worry of the relatives, Brugada said that the list of people will be published, "of the 68 for which we have names and some information, it is a preliminary list, which needs to be verified, but we consider it very important that what we have can be made known because there is a lot of concern among the population about who they were, who was injured." He specified that the truck has already been identified and is part of the company Transportadora Silza, SA de CV, a company that has transportation permits from the National Energy Commission and is part of Grupo Tomza. Regarding the whereabouts of the driver of the vehicle, authorities indicated that he is alive and is being treated as one of the injured.
Videos on social media from people and drivers near the accident recorded the moment of the rollover, the gas leak, and the explosion with a blaze of enormous proportions.
As a result, various roads were closed in the area where the nation's capital meets the neighboring State of Mexico, while emergency units finish extinguishing the flames and cleaning up.