A sombre mood engulfed Morogoro municipality yesterday with business activities coming to standstill as Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa led mourners at the burial service for people who died in the wake of a fuel tanker explosion incident last Saturday.

The premier announces formation of a special commission to probe and present to the government detailed information on the source of the tragic incident which had by yesterday left 71 dead.

The tragedy occured on Saturday morning when a crashed fuel tanker exploded as some people rushed to syphon off leaking petrol. An official statement obtained shortly before we went to press last night indicated that 59 victims were still nursing wounds.

Forty three patients were admitted to Muhimbili National Hospital (MNH) in Dar es Salaam and remaining 16 were at Morogoro referral hospitals.

"Controversies still surround the fatal accident. A lot of questions are still unanswered. We must find out if authorities here, including traffic police and the fire department did their job," Mr Majawila told the relatives of the deceased at Morogoro Secondary School grounds who were waiting to take part in DNA tests and burial of their families.

The bodies were burnt beyond recognition, forcing the government to apply DNA tests. The commission, according to the premier, has until this Friday to present its findings and, among  other aspects, will investigate how the authorities in the eastern region responded to the accident before leading to loss of lives.

"It is obvious that when the accident occurs traffic police are obliged to rush to the site immediately even by using rental vehicle. Who was responsible to preventing people to reach the tanker? Did the fire brigade arrive in time ? I want to probe team to come with a full detailed report," he said.

According to him, a similar incident occured at Mbalizi area in the Mbeya Region in the past and claimed the lives of many Tanzanians, and the same has now occured in Morogoro.

He noted that there was a need to launch investigations to establish who did not fulfill his or her responsability. The premier, who represented President Magufuli at the occasion, said the government was very shocked to establish that some of the deceased were burnt beyond recognition. "President Magufuli is deeply saddened by this tragedy. That is why he sent me to deliver his condolences to you for the deaths of our relatives who have lost lives in this tagic incident," he said.

Earlier yesterday, Mr Majaliwa visited 16 victims of the accident who were undergoing medical treatment at the Morogoro Referral Hospital. he said that the government will make sure that they get the best possible health service until they recover and resume their daily activities.

He said the President had already issued a permit for the government to provide money for buying medical devices and medicines that are needed to save the lives of injured persons who are undergoing treatment. Mr Majaliwa has further urged the people to donate blood in order to increase the stock to blood banks in hospitals.

He said the blood will not only help the injured of the fire accident but also other patients who will be in need in future.