Tanzanian President John Pombe Magufuli has declared three days of national mourning for victims of the fuel tanker explosion on Saturday.

A press statement issued on Sunday said that during the three days of mourning, all national flags will be hoisted at half-mast.

“President Dr John Pombe Magufuli has declared three days of national mourning starting Saturday 10th August. In that period, all flags will fly at half-mast,” read the press statement by the Director of Communications at State House.

The accident happened in the city of Morogoro which is a major route for transporting cargo and fuel from the port city of Dar es Salaam, the country’s’ commercial capital.

Footage from the scene showed the truck engulfed in fierce flames and huge clouds of black smoke with burnt bodies lying on the ground.

Initial media reports had put at 60 the number of people who died in the accident while 70 others were reported to have sustained serious injuries.