Sunday, 13 people were killed and many others were injured after an overturned petrol tanker caught fire and exploded on a highway in western Kenya, according to police.

“We counted twelve bodies at the scene. Another person died in hospital from their injuries,” said Charles Chacha, a local police chief in Siaya County where the accident took place late Saturday.

The victims had rushed to syphon leaking fuel after the truck overturned near Malanga.

“It burst into flames as they scooped fuel that was flowing,” Chacha said.

He added “Many others have been taken to hospital with serious burns and they include young children.”

Fire crews arrived on the scene two hours later to put out the fire.