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The driver of this fuel tanker escaped death by a whisker last Saturday afternoon when the vehicle, carrying an estimated 60 000 litres of fuel exploded into a huge ball of fire just after the Rusape toll-gate along the Mutare-Harare highway.
The shaken driver who was heading to Harare told eyewitnesses that he stopped the tanker after he felt unusual heat that had filled the cabin. He went around the tanker to check if all was well.
But no sooner had he decided to go back in the driver’s seat that he realised the cabin was on fire. He quickly retreated metres away and in no time, the tanker exploded into flames, making the highway impassable.
Black smoke billowing from the burning fuel could be seen 10km away. Motorists were delayed for more than two hours before they opened a detour. A Rusape town fire brigade tender arrived at the scene but had no water. – (Pictures by Eunice Sibanda).
Online Reporter