A cloud of gas leaking from a truck caused an enormous explosion under a highway overpass in Mexico City on Wednesday afternoon, killing three people and injuring at least 70 more, Mexican officials said.
Clara Brugada, the city’s mayor, posted a list on social media of those who were hurt when the inferno erupted, several of whom suffered severe burns. Earlier in the day, Ms. Brugada had told reporters that at least 19 people were in critical condition, but it was unclear by Wednesday evening whether that figure had changed.
“It is a tragic accident. The prosecutor’s office is beginning investigations to determine what happened,” Ms. Brugada said at the scene.
The truck’s driver was taken to a hospital, according to Pablo Vázquez Camacho, the Mexico City security minister. “He is still alive but in serious condition,” he said.
The blast engulfed nearby vehicles in flames and created chaos in Iztapalapa, a working-class community and the capital’s most populous borough, with 1.8 million people.
Videos of the aftermath showed some people wandering around in pain with charred clothing.
On Wednesday afternoon, firefighters had extinguished the fire but were still trying to control the leakage from the gas tanker, which it was estimated still contained about 20,000 liters of fuel, or about 5,300 gallons, according to Judith Rodríguez Vargas, a spokeswoman with the capital’s fire department.
Hours later, they had been able to burn the remaining gas and empty the tanker without any further incidents. Ms. Brugada said that authorities had removed the truck from the scene.
Miriam Castillo contributed reporting from Mexico City.
Emiliano Rodríguez Mega is a reporter and researcher for The Times based in Mexico City, covering Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean.
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