Deadly gas tanker explosion in Ulaanbaatar leaves six dead, including three firefighters
4:48 AM EST, January 24, 2024
A tragic accident occurred in Mongolia's capital, Ulaanbaatar, where at least six lives were lost, including three firefighters. The mishap was caused by the explosion of a truck that was transporting 66 tons of liquefied gas.
Gas explosion in Mongolia
The explosion was reported on Tuesday night going into Wednesday, local time. The gas tanker truck collided with a passenger car near a major shopping complex in southern Ulaanbaatar.
The collision resulted in an explosion, and the subsequent fire quickly spread to nearby vehicles and buildings. The blaze entirely consumed numerous cars.
600 firefighters combat the flames
An overwhelming number of 600 firefighters participated in the challenging and extensive extinguishing operation. 100 fire department vehicles were part of the operations. Due to the potential risk, a nearby residence was evacuated.
The incident occurred under extreme conditions, as the temperature in Ulaanbaatar plummeted to -11 degrees Fahrenheit that night.
The explosion and subsequent fire injured several people, including four children. Fiona Blyth and Richard Buangan, the UK and US Ambassadors in Mongolia, respectively, expressed their condolences to the victims' families.
