Two fuel tankers were engulfed by fire on Monday night in Bulawayo’s Donnington Industrial Area, near the intersection of Goderich Avenue and Masiyephambili Road, in an incident suspected to be linked to illegal fuel siphoning.
Bulawayo Chief Fire Officer, Mr Mhlangano Moyo, confirmed that the tankers, which were fully loaded with fuel, caught fire close to DA Service Station. Although no injuries were reported, firefighters spent several hours battling intense flames after multiple fire engines were deployed to the scene.
Mr Moyo described the situation as severe, saying the blaze was accompanied by loud explosions as crews worked to bring the fire under control. Investigations into the exact cause of the incident are still underway.
The explosions were felt across nearby suburbs, including Tshabalala, Nketa and Bellevue. Some residents said the blasts sounded like an earthquake, while others closer to the site reported shattered windows.
More details are expected as authorities continue their investigations.
