Gas Truck Explodes In Ecatepec Mexico Leaving 18 Dead and Dozens Injured

Early Tuesday morning about 5am local time a gas trucker exploded on a Mexican highway near the suburb of Ecatepec.

At least 18 people were killed and another 36 were injured when the gas tanker exploded. The head of the Ministry of Public Safety, Salvador Neme told reporters 15 cars and 20 homes were damaged in the gas truck explosion.

According to Reforma Neme said the "duel cargo vehicle trailer, belonging to the company Thermo Gas hit the containment fence that divides the senses of circulation."

In the initial report about the gas truck explosion Neme went on Twitter to say that only 13 people were injured but later updated the number to 18. The scene at the site of the explosion is a grisly one. Police found three charred bodies on the side of the road. Neme told the media he is hoping the number of those killed will not continue to rise.

Debris, pieces of cars and cement road blocks were all sent flying into nearby homes along the Mexican highway.

According to the newsdaily.com the gas truck was traveling "on a highway linking Mexico City to the central city of Pachuca." The highway has been closed since rescue and recovery workers arrived on the scene. Reforma says the highway could reopen at some point today.

Reforma says those seriously injured in the gas truck explosion have been taken to the Mexican Red Cross Hospital.

This is not the first time Mexico has been hit with a gas truck explosion. CTVNews reports that "Mexican trucks, often over loaded or unsafely operated, have been involved in a number of spectacular [and] deadly accidents in recent years."

Last April in Veracruz, located near the Gulf coast, a "double-trailer truck" ended up losing its back trailer. The trailer crashed into a bus killing 43 people.

In March 2013 13 people were killed and 154 injured when a firework truck exploded in a village located in Tlaxcala state.

Last year the Mexican government issued a statement saying they would tighten inspections and enforce safety measures to ensure these frequent accidents do not keep happening.