“People were trying to steal the fuel from the pipes and loading it to the truck. We suspect that something may have gone wrong while they were still busy. Then there was an explosion which led to a massive fire.”
DURBAN – At least two people have been killed in a massive explosion while allegedly trying to steal fuel from the Transnet pipeline on Horseshoe Road in Jacobs outside eThekwini on Sunday.
A spokesperson for eThekwini Fire Department, Thabile Zikhali, confirmed the two deaths.
It had earlier been reported earlier that only one person had died.
Zikhali said: “There are two now, because as the incident is ongoing we keep on discovering bodies. This whole incident is happening outside. We suspect that the deceased were the ones trying to steal fuel from the Transnet pipeline.”
She added that the explosion was from a Transnet pipeline.
“People were trying to steal the fuel from the pipes and loading it to the truck. We suspect that something may have gone wrong while they were still busy. Then there was an explosion which led to a massive fire,” Zikhali said.
She added that some fuel had gotten into the water.
“There are teams that are protecting the area, trying to stop the fuel from getting into the harbour.”
She added that Transnet engineers, the police and emergency services were also on the scene.
“The Transnet engineer has advised that we evacuate the area to a safe distance of 500 metres from where we are. This is done by the fire department and metro police,” Zikhali said.
ALS Paramedics Medical Services arrived on the scene to find the EMRS and eThekwini Fire Department already there and fighting the blaze.
ALS spokesperson Garrith Jamieson said that by 6am the eThekwini Fire Department were still on the scene and fighting the blaze, which could be seen as far away as Glenwood.
