Death toll from Kenya tanker fireball hits 40

Nairobi : The death toll from a fireball caused by a crash involving a tanker carrying flammable materials rose to 40 Monday, as Kenya faced calls to improve safety on its perilous roads.

The east African nation was left reeling by devastating scenes from the crash late Saturday in which the tanker ploughed into 11 vehicles, leaving a trail of incinerated wreckage and bodies along the main road leading west from Nairobi towards Uganda.

Officials initially put the death toll at 33, but after scouring the scene, rescue workers -- some in hazmat suits -- found six more bodies in the bush of people who tried to flee the scene, a senior police officer told AFP.

And one of the injured succumbed to their wounds in hospital.

"We have 34 bodies at Chiromo mortuary and six at Kenyatta University mortuary," said Nathaniel Kigotho, director of the National Disaster Operations Centre.

He said all of the victims would have to undergo DNA testing to be identified.

The dead include 11 officers of the General Service Unit, a paramilitary police force.

"Scenes from hell" was the headline on Kenya's Daily Nation newspaper which ran stories of brave rescues and daring escapes from the inferno.

One motorist called Kamau said he managed to jump out of his car just in time, but witnessed grisly scenes including a man running for his life as flames consumed him. 

"I am not sure if he survived," he said.