Fuel Truck Bomb Blast Kills over 40 Civilians in Syria's Afrin (+Video)
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – At least 40 civilians were killed in a fuel tanker bomb blast in a northern Syrian town controlled by Turkish forces and their allied militants, according to Turkey's defense ministry.
The ministry said in a Twitter post that another 47 people were wounded in Tuesday's explosion in a crowded street of Afrin, located more than 40 kilometers (24 miles) north of Aleppo, Al Jazeera reported.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility but Turkey blamed the attack on the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG).
Local reports said the blast on Tuesday burned several people to death, including some who were stuck inside their vehicles.
In a hospital yard, 10 charred bodies were covered with blankets next to ambulances. In an ambulance nearby, two charred bodies were inside, according to videos and photos circulated by activists.
The blast set several cars and shops on fire and tanker trucks were used to fight the blaze.
Amid fears the death toll could rise, activists in northern Syria urged people in the Afrin area to head to hospitals and donate blood.
In March 2018, the Turkish military and allied Syria militants took control of Afrin after a two-month-long offensive, which dislodged YPG militants from the Syrian city.
