Death toll rises to 14 in attempt to take gasoline from crashed tanker in Mexico

MEXICO CITY – The death toll from the explosion of a crashed gasoline tanker truck in southern Mexico rose to 14 on Tuesday.

The Tabasco state prosecutor's office said through its official Twitter account that two more people had died.

The Civil Defense agency says the 15,800-gallon (60, 000-liter) tanker crashed on the road between Villahermosa and Coatzacoalcos in southeastern Mexico on Thursday. Area residents ignored authorities' warnings to stay away and instead tried to take gasoline from the damaged tanker and many suffered serious burns when it exploded.

In addition to those killed, more than 20 people were injured. Authorities had not been able to interview the injured.