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Five people were killed and six others were injured after an oil tanker exploded on Side Street on Saturday. The fire started about 3:15 pm whilst the oil tanker was emptying its payload at the BP station. Witnesses said first there was a fire, then the explosion. It sent smoke into the air that could be seen for miles. 

According to authorities, the tanker was carrying an estimated 4000 gallons of unleaded petroleum at the time of the explosion.

The cause of the explosion is under investigation; Fire Chief James Woodland said the department was "checking the evidence at the moment."

A Ferrari 458 Spider was abandoned at the scene after the driver "Had to get out and run when the explosion happened," Chief Woodland told reporters.

The local EvoCity Hospital could only accept four of the six injured, the remaining two were airlifted to a nearby medical centre.  They are currently being treated for severe burns and smoke inhalation. A nurse at the EvoCity Hospital informed the EvoCity Newspaper that the victims were "spitting black tar" that had gone into their lungs.

Witnesses said they could feel the explosion from more than a mile away.

"It was a violent explosion," said John Rayhan, who was walking past the Empire Hotel, just across the street from the incident. "I just saw the smoke, and I took off running, calling 911."

City investigators said they were in contact with TransOil, an oil fluid transportation company headquartered in EvoCity, to learn what went wrong. 

In an official statement, Chief Woodland also assured commuters that the road is scheduled to be reopened "in the next 48 hours."

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Published: 18/06/17
Submitted By: Pierre El Daher

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