In brief
An oxygen cylinder exploded inside a parked ambulance in Tharparkar district, killing several people and injuring many more. Reports disagree on the death toll – Xinhua says eight, Anadolu Agency says nine, and Jagonews reports at least ten. Police called in specialist teams as victims were rushed to Karachi for treatment.
An oxygen cylinder burst inside an ambulance parked at a health facility in Nagarparkar, Tharparkar district, Sindh province, Pakistan, on Wednesday night, killing several people and burning the vehicle.
Police said the ambulance was operating at a local hospital when the cylinder exploded, setting the vehicle on fire and causing a scramble of emergency crews.
Injured staff and patients were taken to Karachi for treatment, while the bodies were moved to a nearby hospital for identification, Xinhua reported.
Different news outlets give different death counts. Xinhua reports eight people were killed and four injured. Anadolu Agency says nine people died and several were badly burned. Jagonews claims at least ten people, including a patient, lost their lives.
Police called on specialist teams from Mirpurkhas and Karachi to examine the scene and figure out what caused the explosion, Xinhua added.
The incident sparked an urgent inquiry from authorities, as reported by Anadolu Agency, who said officials are looking into how the cylinder malfunctioned.
The incident highlights the risks of transporting oxygen cylinders and the need for strict safety checks in medical transport services.
