was already leaking while others thought they heard a loud bang that preceded the leak starting. The bang might have been caused by a blown tire which caused the truck to swerve and crash into the wall separating the campsite from the roadside (possibly overturning in the process). Within seconds the highly flammable propylene started to rapidly escape from the stopped tanker, it formed a white cloud that partially drifted into the campsite and towards a discothèque to the northeast. Numerous intrigued campers approached the cloud with curiosity as it continued to spread; eventually it became so dense that many were unable to see the tanker. Within moments of the cloud reaching the discothèque, a flash occurred caused by an unknown ignition source. This flash returned to the source instantaneously causing the weakened tanker to explode, igniting its entire load of propylene. The ensuing blast and fireball destroyed everything – cars, trailers and buildings – within a radius, charred everything within a radius, gutting over 90% of the main camping area. The discothèque to the northeast, which was later determined to be the likely source of the ignition, was also razed, killing all the staff members inside. Additionally, 34 vehicles and 21 tents were burnt out, a restaurant partially collapsed, and the tanker truck was broken into three main pieces. The fireball blast, which was estimated to have reached a temperature of about , created a shallow crater that was . Emergency response The explosion and fireball instantly killed the driver and other people within the area. A total of 157 people died on site as a result of the initial explosion and the subsequent fires and explosions of cars and gas cylinders used by the tourists. Victims were seen with their hair and clothing on fire, fleeing into the sea in an attempt to put out the flames. In the first 45 minutes after the disaster, the wounded were removed in an uncoordinated fashion with the help of other survivors using their own cars and vans. Locals also provided help and took the wounded to the hospitals. Ambulances and other emergency forces gradually arrived. The Civil Guard and the armed forces searched the devastated camp for survivors. It took three hours until the last of the wounded were removed and taken to hospital. The burning tanker blocked the road, dividing the injured into two groups, one being taken northwards