‘Kabul gas accident toll rises to eight’

Kabul: The death toll from an explosion at a liquid gas reservoir in Kabul has risen to eight, a health official said on Thursday, with 63 injured. NATO’s International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), which helped Afghan emergency services tackle the blaze, said the accident on Wednesday was believed to have been caused by an electrical short circuit. “Eight people have been killed and 63 injured in the explosion and fire”, said health ministry spokesman Ghulam Sakhi Kargar Norughli. Many of the victims were taken to hospital with severe burns and 20 were in a critical condition he added, warning the death toll could rise. Thick black smoke and flames rose from a warehouse on the site as dozens of fire fighters tried to put out the flames. Afghan interior ministry spokesman Sediq Sediqqi said initial investigations had ruled out the possibility of any terrorist involvement in the blaze. (AFP)