Fuel tanker road accident in Egypt kills 14

10 December 2013 - 11:48 By Sapa-AP
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Egypt's Health Ministry says a fuel tanker overturned and exploded on a road in a Nile Delta city, killing 14 people.

The ministry said in a statement, carried by the state news agency MENA, that the accident took place on Monday evening in the city of Kafr el-Zayat. Six people were hurt.

Police officials say the tanker was pulling a trailer and overturned for unknown reasons. They say a large quantity of fuel spilled, causing a huge fire that engulfed a nearby minibus and a rickshaw.

The officials spoke on condition of anonymity, according to regulations.

Traffic accidents are common in Egypt due to badly maintained roads and disregard of traffic laws. A 2012 World Health Organization report says 12,000 people die in such accidents every year in the country.

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