A gas tanker truck exploded in the east of Mexico City, causing flames and columns of smoke rarely seen, leaving at least 57 injured, some with their bodies completely burned and others in serious condition.

According to the Head of Government Clara Brugada, she described the explosion under an overpass on the highway connecting to the state of Puebla, which burned 18 vehicles and left 19 seriously injured. He added that no deaths have yet been reported.

Images released by authorities and users on social media showed that around 2:00 p.m., a cloud of gas suddenly covered the area and in an instant, a huge flame of more than 30 meters turned the area into hell.

Amid the chaos, according to videos on social media, dozens of people run to save themselves, screaming and fleeing from the explosion, while other images show men with their entire bodies apparently burned, while emergency vehicles try to arrive at full speed.

Pending investigations, it is believed that the explosion originated from the unit with thousands of liters of fuel that after exploding also affected several vehicles.

For his part, the Secretary of Citizen Security, Pablo Vazquez Camacho, reported that in coordination with the Mexican Red Cross and authorities from various mayors' offices and municipalities, the transfer of victims to different hospitals in the area.

“We will continue with the road closures, protecting the area for the safety of the entire population in the vicinity, and also to preserve the scene while the Prosecutor's Office concludes the expert reports and the investigation to determine the precise cause of this accident,” he said.

Other tragic explosions in Mexico

In addition to this serious mishap, Mexico has a history of explosions that have left their mark on society.

In the modern era, in January 2015, an explosion was recorded at the Cuajimalpa Maternal Hospital, caused by a gas leak from a truck that supplied the hospital.

The explosion caused severe damage to the building and surrounding areas, including a nursery and a delivery area.

However, the worst tragedy occurred in November 1984, in San Juan Ixhuatepec, better known as San Juanico, when a storage and distribution plant belonging to Petroleos Mexicanos (Pemex) caught fire, leaving at least 500 people dead and nearly 2,000 injured.