Three firefighters died when a truck transporting 54.5 tonnes of liquefied natural gas (LNG) crashed and exploded in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia’s capital.
The incident occurred early on January 24 after the vehicle collided with a car. Emergency responders, numbering in the hundreds, fought the resulting blaze which spread to nearby structures, injuring at least 11 individuals. The blast hit three nearby buildings.
Witnesses said the noise from the explosion was very loud making nearby residents to flee for safety.
Despite the destruction, no casualties were reported from within the affected buildings.
The incident has raised concerns about safety regulations, particularly regarding the transportation of hazardous materials through residential areas. Criticism has been directed at city planning, with residents and officials questioning why such dangerous cargo was allowed to traverse neighbourhoods housing schools and residential buildings.
