This article is more than 7 years old

This article is more than 7 years old

A fuel tanker explosion has killed at least 29 people and left dozens injured, according to Ugandan police.

Spokesman Ibn Senkumbi said the tanker blew up after colliding with a car on Saturday evening on the outskirts of the capital, Kampala.

He said the tanker had been hit from behind, causing a leak. Passersby attempted to siphon fuel from the stricken vehicle after the driver abandoned it. Moments later the tanker burst into flames, engulfing nearby cars and scores of people.

At least 20 badly burned patients were admitted to a hospital in Kampala.

"Some people noticed the flow of fuel and they came for it," Senkumbi said. "The tanker exploded, killing 29 people on the spot." At least 29 others were critically injured, he added.

On Sunday morning, police continued to search for bodies in a papyrus swamp where many of the victims had fled to douse the flames.

The minister for disaster preparedness, Musa Ecweru, described the incident as an avoidable calamity and said it was unfortunate that some people had failed to learn from past mistakes. "We have always told our people to stay away from trucks that involve inflammable products such as petrol," he said. "We thought they would learn from the lessons of the past."