Online Reporter
Thupeyo Muleya, Beitbridge Bureau
BEITBRIDGE border post came to a grinding halt on Monday after a stranded LP gas tanker at a service station triggered fears of a deadly explosion, forcing officials to shut down traffic in and out of both countries.
South African and Zimbabwean border authorities moved swiftly to block all vehicle movement at the busy port of entry after the gas-laden tanker was abandoned at the Shell garage, posing a ticking time bomb in the heart of the border town.
Emergency crews rushed to the scene to begin transferring the highly flammable gas to another tanker.
“There is currently a stranded LP Gas tanker at the Shell garage posing a potential explosion hazard. Emergency teams have been deployed and are preparing to transfer the gas safely to another tanker,” said Memory Ndou, the South Africa Revenue Services lead at Beitbridge, in a message to inter-border agencies.
“As a precautionary measure, all operations at the border post have been temporarily suspended. The team is clearing a few trucks at the gate and where possible, trucks should be returned to truck parking and officials will be evacuated,” she added.
The transfer operation was scheduled to start at 15:30, with traffic halted beyond Matombo on the SA side, while Zimbabwean officials were also instructed to stop movement on their side.
This is the second gas-related incident in recent weeks at the country’s busiest land port.
Authorities warned of possible delays and advised travellers and truck drivers to consider alternate routes or wait for further instructions.
An update on when operations will resume is expected soon.
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Bunjiwe Mkwananzi