Four vehicles reduced to ashes after oil tanker’ brakes fail

Ngara. Four vehicles have been burnt to ashes at Rusumo Customs inNgara Districtalong the Tanzania-Rwanda border following an accident between two oil tankers.

The explosion that rocked the area was caused by one oil tanker whose brakes failed around 7.15am and hit the other before exploding.

An eye witness, Mr Chrispine Kamugisha, saidthe oil tanker was at theentrance of the Rusumo Customs when its brakes failed and that the explosion burnt two other cars, which were in the area.

Surprisingly, there was no any effort from fire extinguishers to put out the fire.

Mr Kamugishasaid that following the explosion the Police Force arrived at the scene and what they did was to disperse the crowd and tow the two tankers away.

"There is a steep slopewhen entering the parking area for clearance and due to lack of a fire rescue,there was not any effort to put out the fire. This accident should serve as a reminder of the need of a fire rescue vehicle in this area,” said Mr Kamugisha.

In recent years, there has been numerous accidents around Rusumo caused by brake failures.

Officer Commanding District (OCD of Ngara District, Mr Abeid Maige, confirmed having receivedreports of the accident and said that the police who were close to thearea swung into action immediately.

Ngara District Commissioner Lt Carnal Michael Mtenjelesaid he hascommunicated with leaders from Rwanda who have promised to bring in ahelicopter to extinguish the fire, which was still raging.

He noted that lack of a fire extinguishers was a major challenge in thedistrict.

“We have requested the central government to give us one fire rescuevehicle, but our request is yet to be fulfilled,” he said.