The Worst Car Crashes In History

Date: November 3, 1982

Location: Salang Pass, Hindu Kush, Afghanistan

Deaths: 2,700 (estimated) 

An explosion in the Salang Tunnel, a vital connection between northern and southern Afghanistan, left 700 Soviet soldiers and some 2,000 Afghanis dead. The explosion resulted in a fire that consumed all vehicles in the tunnels. Fire, smoke, and carbon monoxide worked in tandem to kill the tunnel's occupants. Some cars, unaware of the explosion, continued to enter the tunnel while the chaos was still occurring. Sources are still unclear whether or not this was an accident or an attack by Afghanistan's Mujahideen. Fearing an attack, Soviet soldiers blocked off the entrances to the tunnel with tanks. The blockade was responsible for further deaths. 

Date: July 2, 2010

Location: Sange, South Kivu, Democratic Republic of the Congo

Deaths: 230 (estimate) 

During a World Cup match, a tragedy occurred in the village of Sange in the Dominican Republic of Congo. A fuel truck overturned and exploded on a road near the village and sent a fireball tearing through the town. Hundreds of people who had gathered to watch the World Cup died in the disaster. The United Nations sent helicopters to air lift survivors out of the village. Many bodies were never identified as they were charred beyond recognition, so the precise number of victims was never determined. It is believed over 230 people died, however. 

Details are sparse as to the exact causes of the explosion, but reports indicate that the truck had tipped over after driving over crumbling terrain due to poor road conditions. The fuel tank had sprung a leak and eventually ignited. 

Date: June 25, 2017

Location: Bahawalpur, Pakistan

Deaths: 219

An overturned oil tanker became the site of mass destruction after an explosion killed hundreds of people. The accident occurred in Pakistan's Bahawalpur District when the truck's driver attempted to make a sharp turn at high speeds. The driver was killed in the initial accident, but many of those killed were local residents drawn to the scene by the prospect of siphoning gas from the overturned vehicle. Reports indicate that someone on the scene had lit a cigarette just prior to the fire's ignition. The tanker was carrying roughly 40,000 liters of fuel at the time of the explosion. 

Date: July 11, 1978

Location: Tarragona, Spain

Deaths: 217

A tanker truck caused hundreds of deaths after it crashed into a ditch near a campsite in the Catalan city of Tarragona. It is unclear as to why the truck crashed, but the ignition of the truck's propane supply created a cloud of gas, which led to a massive explosion. More than 200 did not survive, either dying on site or succumbing to their wounds. Rescue operations and emergency services were not equipped to deal with the level of destruction, and it took hours for all the survivors to be treated for their wounds. 

Date: February 15, 1991

Location: Thung Maphrao, Phang Nga, Thailand

Deaths: 122

After a dynamite truck tipped to its side in rural Thailand, there did not appear to be any danger near the crash site so many onlookers gathered out of curiosity. Unfortunately, the truck exploded a few hours later and killed over 100 people. Most of those who lost their lives were people who had gathered to view the damage. The truck was on route to deliver the dynamite package to a nearby quarry. Not only were lives lost in the explosion, over 50 houses were were destroyed in the blast. 

Date: July 12, 2012

Location: Okobie, Nigeria

Deaths: 121

In July 2012, a Nigerian fuel tanker flipped over and ruptured its tank near a petroleum station located near the small village of Okobie. As people gathered to steal the leaking fuel, an explosion erupted, which killed and injured hundreds of people. The truck driver had reportedly crashed the car after losing control of the vehicle. He also warned people to evacuate repeatedly for over 40 minutes while people gathered around the accident site.