Online Reporter
Sikhumbuzo Moyo
A SWIFT and coordinated response by Bulawayo’s emergency teams averted what could have been a catastrophe yesterday after a fuel tanker carrying 40 000 litres of petrol overturned at the 428km peg along the Harare-Bulawayo Highway.
The tanker, travelling from Harare to Bulawayo, veered off the road after the driver attempted to avoid a head-on collision with an overtaking truck. The driver, 42-year-old Ephraim Banda of Norton, sustained minor injuries and was rescued from the vehicle before being rushed to United Bulawayo Hospitals (UBH) for treatment.
Bulawayo chief fire officer Mr Mhlangano Moyo said the emergency teams quickly moved to secure the scene, containing leaking fuel and preventing what could have been an explosive situation.
“After securing life, we managed to close the leaking fuel and mobilised other stakeholders, including EMA, ZERA, ZETDC, the Zimbabwe Republic Police, and the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works, which oversees the Civil Protection Unit,” said Mr Moyo.
The rescue operation involved cranes to lift the overturned tanker and controlled decanting of fuel, while firefighters continuously doused the vehicle with foam liquid to minimise the risk of ignition.
Mr Moyo emphasised that such incidents highlight the need for strict adherence to road safety regulations for heavy-duty vehicles, particularly fuel tankers, and the importance of well-trained emergency personnel to respond swiftly.
The director for Bulawayo Metropolitan and chairperson of the local Civil Protection Committee, Mrs Tsvagai Fikile Marovatsanga, said residents were quickly alerted about the imminent danger during the operation.
