Six People Killed in Incident Involving Tanker Carrying Liquid Natural Gas in Mongolia

A tragic incident occurred in the Mongolian capital, resulting in the loss of six lives, including three brave firefighters.

The incident involved a truck carrying a substantial amount of liquefied natural gas, which unfortunately crashed and led to a devastating explosion.

Officials reported that a car collision in Ulaanbaatar on Wednesday morning resulted in a massive blaze, prompting the dispatch of hundreds of firefighters to the scene.

Eleven individuals sustained injuries as the fire rapidly extended to neighbouring structures.

A local resident shared his experience of initially mistaking a plane crash.

Erdenebold Sukhbaatar, a 40-year-old lawyer, shared with Reuters that the crash, occurring shortly after 01:00 local time (17:00 GMT on Tuesday), had the sensation of an earthquake, accompanied by a sudden burst of light.

“It was incredibly powerful. And then I witnessed an incredibly powerful event, unlike anything I had ever seen before. It was around 60, a massive amount, equivalent to 60,000 litres of gas. It had the magnitude of a massive fluid substance.

He observed the rapid spread of the fire, engulfing nearly three separate buildings.

According to a resident who spoke to Reuters, they only became aware of the fire in their building when they discovered that their front door was already consumed by flames. This compelled them to escape through the back door. Upon reflection, it was evident that the fire had made its way to the highest level of the building.

“It all happened in a flash,” they remarked.

Many in the neighborhood are wondering why a tanker with potentially hazardous cargo would dare to pass through their neighborhood.

One person shared the devastating impact of the explosion, which not only shattered their windows but also completely demolished their balcony.

As per Sainbuyan Amarsaikhan, Mongolia’s deputy prime minister, there have been no reports of any casualties from within the buildings.

However, he shared that the firefighters lost their lives in a second explosion, where part of the truck was forcefully thrown, resulting in a tragic loss.

The Mongolian National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) reported that the fire was extinguished by 04:30. Unfortunately, four children, including one who suffered from poisoning, were among the injured.

There are concerns arising regarding the decision to allow a tank with a hazardous cargo to pass through a residential area that is home to several schools.

“If it occurred during peak hours in the morning or evening, it would be even more detrimental,” noted Erdenebold Sukhbaatar.

“This highlights the poor quality of city planning,” Ankhbayar Galbadrakh told AFP news agency. “All of these trucks – whether they run on petrol or not – should be required to travel outside of the city limit.”