The Police, working in collaboration with the Fire Prevention and Rescue Services on Wednesday evening rushed to the scene to battle flames after a Kenyan fuel tank caught fire in the middle of the road along the Northern By-pass, bringing traffic flow to a halt for hours.

The incident occurred at about 4:00 pm on Wednesday, October 18, 2023, near Masanafu-Busega Northern Bypass, when a fuel tanker with registration number KBL 022A and ZD 3482 went up in flames, causing fear among the other motorists.  

The police identified the driver as Ismail Umar, a 27-year-old Kenyan national who managed to jump out of the truck. According to a statement issued by Luke Owoyesigyire, the KMP deputy spokesperson, while the cause of the fire was yet to be determined, the fire team, whom he referred to as ‘dedicated officers’ had responded promptly to the scene. 

“The Fire and Rescue Services team has managed to contain the fire, and efforts are ongoing to fully extinguish it,” he explained. He assured the motorists that one lane of the road had been opened to allow flow of traffic, after the incident paralyzed transport for some time.

“We would like to reassure road users who depend on the bypass that one lane is currently open and usable for motorists, ensuring minimal disruption. The authorities are conducting a thorough investigation to ascertain the cause of the fire. We will communicate our findings in due course,” he said and urged the public to remain patient and cooperative during the operation, which was still ongoing by press time.