Thirteen people have been confirmed dead and eleven others sustained serious injuries following an accident involving a fuel tanker in Malanga, Gem Sub-county along the Kisumu-Busia highway.

Gem Sub-county police commander Charles Chacha confirmed the 10:45 pm incident.

According to police reports, the accident happened when a truck laden with 20,000 liters of milk that was on a collision course with the fuel tanker tried to avoid the accident.

Unfortunately the fuel tanker rammed into the milk truck and rolled from the impact spilling its highly flammable contents by the roadside.

As it is characteristic of most care-free Kenyans, some members of the public saw an opportunity to enrich themselves by siphoning the fuel from the tanker paying no attention the hazards the venture they were about to engage in posed.

The tanker burst into flames that took about three hours to extinguish as the Siaya Sub-county fire brigade was ill equiped to fight the fire effectively.

Eventually the fire was contained after the Busia County fire brigade stepped in to help.

The eleven casualties were rushed to Yala Sub-county hospital for emergency treatment.