13 Perish as Fuel Tanker Bursts Into Flames

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Thirteen people were burnt to death and 11 others seriously injured on Saturday night, 17th July, after an overturned fuel tanker they were drawing petrol from burst into flames and exploded at Malanga on Kisumu-Busia highway.

The 11 survivors were taken to Yala Sub-County Hospital.

The incident happened at around 9pm. Area residents had rushed to the scene with containers to fetch fuel only for the tanker to explode later.

Reports indicate that the fuel tanker driver was trying to avoid a head-on collision with a truck ferrying milk. The milk truck, which was heading to Kisumu, veered off the road to avoid smashing into the fuel tanker travelling to Busia.

As a result, the fuel tanker overturned, spilling the fuel.

According to Gem OCPD Moses Chacha, the fire broke out when one person opened the tanker compartment to enable them to siphon petrol faster before the arrival of the police.

“The members of the public took advantage and siphoned the petrol as one compartment of the tanker was open. Another resident, realising the other compartment was closed and delaying them, opened it to enable them to siphon fast before the police could arrive. This caused a spark and it blew up,” Chacha told The Standard.

The fire brigade, who arrived at the scene from Busia Town, took at least three hours to put out the inferno.

The post 13 Perish as Fuel Tanker Bursts Into Flames appeared first on LitKenya.

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