Truck explosion in Chile’s capital kills four, injures 17

By Fabian Cambero

SANTIAGO, Feb 19 (Reuters) – At least four people were killed when a truck transporting liquid gas in Chile’s capital Santiago overturned and exploded, authorities said on Thursday.

Another 17 people were injured, a police chief told reporters at a press conference, saying the driver of the truck had lost control and crashed.

Authorities said the truck driver was among those who died in the incident.

The prosecutor’s office is investigating what led up to the accident. The truck was affiliated with local gas company Gasco.

Gasco did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Reuters.

Videos on social media showed flames pluming at the site of the explosion. The accident happened in the northern Santiago commune of Renca, near a major highway and an industrial area.

The explosion was felt within a radius of about 150 to 200 meters and damaged at least 50 vehicles, according to firefighters.

President Gabriel Boric said some debris flew into three businesses, but so far there were no reports of further widespread damage.

Five people were reportedly in serious condition, according to Claudio Orrego, the governor of the Santiago metropolitan region.

“One has burns covering 100% of their body with imminent risk to their life,” Orrego said.

(Reporting by Fabian Cambero; Writing by Aida Pelaez-Fernandez; editing by Cassandra Garrison, Daina Beth Solomon and Nia Williams)