Rescuers combed a scorched forest for corpses Sunday and burn victims overwhelmed hospitals after an overturned gasoline tanker exploded as hundreds of people were trying to scoop up free fuel. At least 113 were killed and nearly 200 hurt, officials said.
Saturday's explosion was one of this East African nation's deadliest accidents. The Kenyan Red Cross said the death toll would likely rise. ``Everybody was screaming and most of them were running with fire on their bodies, they were just running into the bush,'' said Charles Kamau, who ran from his car as flames shot into the air.
``I just ran to where there was no fire,'' Kamau, 22, said at a Red Cross tent where he was reporting a missing friend.
Overwhelmed hospitals nearby were packed with victims, including small children, suffering from horrific burns. Many were lying on the floors, hooked up to drips and moaning in pain as doctors tried to save their lives. Supplies, including body bags and extra medicine, were sent by helicopter to the region.
Burnt-out cars and charred clothing littered the road where the shell of the tanker stood in Molo, about 105 miles (170 kilometers) outside the capital, Nairobi. Authorities were combing through the scorched forest by the road for any corpses.
The explosion highlights the desperation of people willing to pilfer highly flammable fuel despite the obvious, grave risks. Similar blasts are common in Nigeria, where people tap gas pipelines to pilfer fuel for cooking or resale on the black market. In 2006, a gasoline blast killed 200 people in Nigeria.
Molo was among the areas hardest hit by the country's postelection violence last year. Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga said at a news conference that it appeared that someone's cigarette caused the explosion but police were still investigating.
The Kenya Red Cross said the death toll was 113 but was expected to rise. ``Most of the families will have a hard time because these bodies are charred beyond recognition,'' said Patrick Nyongesa, the regional manager for the Kenya Red Cross.
Trembling patients were loaded into ambulances Sunday for transfer to burn units. The Kenyan government has been criticized for poor safety regulations recently. On Wednesday, a massive fire swept through a supermarket in downtown Nairobi, killing at least 25.