At least eight killed in Bolivian gas tank explosion

At least eight people were killed, and 40 others injured in a cooking gas tank explosion during the famous Carnival celebrations in the Bolivian city of Oruro on Saturday night.

A roadside food stall owner had installed the gas cylinder along the route where thousands of dancers were taking part in the Oruro Carnival, said police on Sunday.

The vendor was preparing a deep fried llama dish when hot oil likely fell on the pipe of the tank, triggering the blast, according to Oruro Police Chief Romel Raña.

The impact area had a radius of at least 50 meters.

President Evo Morales wrote on Twitter that he was "dismayed at the news of the deaths caused by the explosion".

The Carnival of Oruro is a religious festival dating back more than 200 years. Hundreds of thousands of people take part every year in the celebrations.

(CGTN)