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Date 2022 May 18
PMID 35582092
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Abstract

Incidents involving tanker trucks regularly appear in the media. The one in Morogoro (Tanzania) on August 10th 2019 (killing at least 89) attracted our attention. We reviewed medical literature (sparse) and media reports to identify and analyse these incidents. In high income countries isolated accidents may be responsible for a few deaths. In low income countries "double" accidents can occur. A commonplace incident occurs which frequently has no victim. When the incident involves a petrol leak, people gather to scoop up the fuel. A spark ignites the petrol and the ensuing engulfing fire is in itself deadly. Frequently, it triggers a tanker BLEVE, which is responsible for a disaster. Preventing these casualties should include avoiding the initial incident, and also (and above all) discouraging the locals from scooping up fuel they can use or possibly sell in order to survive.

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