Afghan fuel blast toll 'hits 45'

The death toll from the explosion of a fuel truck in an Afghan village on Sunday has risen to 45, doctors say.

The blast occurred in Azizabad, a town about 650km west of Kabul in the Shindand district of Herat province.

The cause of the explosion was thought to be an attempt to repair the truck with a welding torch.

The blast caused a second fuel truck to explode and doctors fear the death toll could rise further given the serious condition of some of the injured.

Buildings destroyed

Dr Arif Shahram, chief physician at a hospital in Herat, said 28 people were hurt.

"The condition of the injured is not good. We have people with 85% to 90% burns and we expect more to die."

The explosion was so powerful, according to officials, that several buildings were destroyed.

The tanker is reported to have been carrying thousands of litres of fuel when it exploded around 1400 local time (0930 GMT).

An investigation is underway but initial indications are that it was an accident.

With limited medical facilities in the immediate area, many casualties were taken to Herat, 100km (62.5 miles) to the north.

Aid agencies in the region with medical expertise offered to assist.