ALBAWABA- At least four people were killed and 17 others injured after a tanker truck carrying liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) overturned and exploded in northern Santiago early Thursday, authorities said.
The incident occurred at the intersection of Ruta 5 Norte and General Velásquez in the Renca district, a major industrial and highway corridor in the Chilean capital.
According to Carabineros police chief Víctor Vielma, the tanker, operated by Gasco, lost control for reasons still under investigation, struck a guardrail, and overturned before igniting in a massive fireball. Thick white smoke billowed across the area as flames spread to nearby vehicles and structures.
Seven smaller vehicles were damaged in the blast, along with parts of a nearby vehicle scrapyard. Sections of the Autopista Central were closed as firefighters worked for hours to contain the blaze amid concerns about possible secondary explosions from residual gas.
The truck driver, an employee of Gasco, was among those killed. Most of the other victims were motorists caught in the chain-reaction crash. Authorities said 10 of the injured suffered severe burns or traumatic injuries and were hospitalized in critical condition.
In a statement, Gasco expressed condolences to the victims’ families and confirmed the tanker had been traveling from a terminal in Quintero to the company’s Maipú plant.
The company said it would fully cooperate with the investigation being led by the Carabineros’ SIAT traffic investigation unit and the LABOCAR forensic team.
While the exact cause remains unclear, preliminary hypotheses include a possible valve leak that may have ignited on impact. Investigators are also examining whether speed, mechanical failure, or driver error played a role.
