Two fuel tankers burnt to ashes

‘‘There was a fire incident recorded in Mpika on Saturday involving two fuel tankers belonging to Mount Meru Petroleum loaded with fuel coming from Tanzania.’’

Two fuel tankers belonging to Mount Meru Petroleum have been burnt to ashes in Mpika after fuel siphoned from one of the tankers went up in flames because of fire from a nearby brazier. The Tanzanian drivers of the two trucks are reportedly on the run. The tankers were believed to be carrying 35,000 litres of fuel. Muchinga Police Commissioner Chola Katanga said the fire incident started on Saturday around 18:30 hours at Muchinga Tavern near Chinsali Station in Chitulika area of Mpika where the fuel tankers were parked. According to investigations so far, the fire came from the brazier that was near fuel believed to have been siphoned from the tanker,’’ Mr Katanga said Mr Katanga said the fire initially gutted one truck and later spread to the other one causing onlookers to scamper in all directions for safety. Mr Katanga said a nearby shop belonging to Mr Mwanja was also burnt to ashes and that property whose value is yet to be established was lost to the inferno. Mr Katanga said no life was lost and that the drivers of the two tankers who are believed to be Tanzanians are on the run. Meanwhile, Mpika residents have appealed to the local authority to consider constructing a parking bay for truckers to avoid accidents. Mr Steven Mulenda Mutale said the fire incident could not have affected other shops if there was a separate parking bay for trucks, tankers and other heavy duty vehicles. That fire incident should be a wakeup call for Mpika District council to take strong measures to protect the community,’’ he said. And ZANIS reports that Muchinga Province Permanent Secretary Jobbicks Kalumba revealed that the Mpika Town Council Fire Tenders tried to put out the fire with assistance from Tanzania Zambia Mafuta Pipeline but to no avail.