At least four people have been killed and several others injured after a truck transporting liquid gas overturned and exploded on a highway in Santiago, Chile.
Horrifying footage captured the moment the a massive cloud of toxic gas engulfed the highway before exploding into flames.
At a press conference a police chief confirmed four people had died and at least 17 others were injured when the driver of the truck lost control and crashed. The truck driver was among those killed.
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The incident happened in the northern Santiago commune of Renca, near an industrial area, last Thursday.
In the shocking video, nearby drivers can be seen attempting to avoid the cloud of gas before it ignited into a massive fireball covering the entire highway.
Local firefighters said the explosion was felt within a radius of about 150-200m and damaged at least 50 vehicles, according to Reuters.
The Governor of the Santiago Metropolitan Region, Claudio Orrego, told reporters that at least five people were in a serious condition.
“One has burns covering 100 per cent of their body with imminent risk to their life,” Mr Orrego said.
The explosion triggered a massive response from emergency services, and resulted in partial closure of the road while operations were carried out.
The Chilean president, Gabriel Boric, stated that investigation protocols had been activated to establish responsibilities and strengthen safety measures in the transportation of hazardous materials.
“Government teams are deployed and working together with the competent institutions to protect the population due to the smoke in the area,” he said on X.
“My solidarity and condolences to the families and loved ones of the people who unfortunately died in this tragedy, and much strength to the injured so that they have a speedy recovery.”
The truck is believed to be affiliated with local gas company, Gasco. The prosecutor’s office is investigating what led up to the accident.
