Egyptian man dies while smuggling gasoline into Gaza

An Egyptian security official says a man allegedly smuggling gasoline into Gaza burned to death in a tunnel.

The official says police saw flames and smoke coming from what later turned out to be a tunnel entrance. They pulled two men from the tunnel.

The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to talk to the media.

A medical representative in North Sinai, Imad Kharboush, said one man died from his injuries. He said the other man, who was badly burned, escaped from the hospital.

The tunnels are used to smuggle food, supplies and weapons into the blockaded strip.

They were targeted by Israel during its Gaza offensive that ended Jan. 18 but since then smuggling has continued.