Bawku, Feb. 12, GNA - Six passengers sustained various degrees of burns when a cargo truck been allegedly used to smuggle fuel from Bawku to Yungu in neighbouring Burkina Faso caught fire and burnt into ashes at the outskirts of Bawku last Tuesday.

A two-year-old girl, however, miraculously escaped unhurt from the blazing truck.

All the victims were currently on admission at the Bawku Presbyterian Hospital, while four others had been treated and discharged.

The truck with registration number UE 4941 C was carrying gallons of petrol and diesel concealed under bags of cement, sugar, coconut and yam and more than 30 passengers though it was licensed to carry only three persons.

Speaking to the GNA at Bawku on the matter, one of the passengers, Mr Umar Alhassan, said until the incident occurred, they (passengers) were not aware that the truck was conveying fuel.

Mr Alhassan said as the truck descended a valley near Bawku Secondary School on the Bawku-Bolgatanga main road, one of the rear tyres busted, making the driver to lose control.

"The truck was dragged on its axle over some distance, giving rise to sparks as a result of the metal contact with the asphalted road," Alhassan explained.

He said there was a sudden eruption of fire when the sparks came into contact with the petrol concealed beneath. The driver of the truck and his mate had gone into hiding and were being sought by the Bawku police to assist in investigations.