On Thursday, a catastrophic explosion occurred involving a gas truck near Santiago, Chile, leading to the tragic deaths of at least four individuals and injuring 17 others, with five reported in critical condition. The incident happened when the driver of the gas truck lost control of the vehicle around 8 AM in the locality of Renca, crashing into a containment barrier.

Authorities rushed to the scene, and the presidential delegate, Gonzalo Durán, confirmed the initial death toll, which was subsequently updated as more injured individuals were transported to medical facilities. The explosion produced a massive plume of smoke that was visible from afar, prompting a significant emergency response to assess the situation and treat the wounded.

As investigations continue, officials are focused on determining what led to the driver losing control and the subsequent explosion. Given the scale of the incident, it raises concerns about road safety and the transport of hazardous materials, particularly in populated areas around the capital city.