Fuel fire: 33 burnt to death

Jul 01, 2013

Uganda Police has said that, 33 people – mainly bodaboda riders – had been confirmed killed in the fuel tanker fire, which also destroyed about 20 motorcycles on Saturday night at Namungoona on the Northern Bypass.

By Simon Masaba
 
The tragedy started unfolding when a station wagon vehicle rammed into the rear of a fuel tanker. The impact damaged the tanker, resulting in a fuel leak. 
 
As the tanker moved on at a snail’s pace with more fuel leaking, bodaboda motorcyclists merrily hooted and phoned their colleagues to take jerrycans and buckets to tap the free fuel. 
 
Ever eager to make an extra buck, the cyclists pursued the trailer in anticipation of a fuel bonanza. 
 
Nobody could tell where the fire came from, but witnesses talked of hearing a loud explosion as the tanker, two other cars and a horde of cyclists were engulfed in the blue flames.
 
When the inferno died down, over 20 charred bodies lay amidst the twisted and blackened frames of the motorcycles. More people lay dead in the Lubigi swamp where they had apparently fled to escape the blaze.
 
The inferno also consumed some passers-by and motorists who failed to escape the towering flames and choking smoke. 
 
Most victims were burnt beyond recognition. 
 
Uganda Police said that, 33 people – mainly bodaboda riders – had been confirmed killed in the fire, which also destroyed about 20 motorcycles on Saturday night at Namungoona on the Northern Bypass. 
 
Police were last night still combing the nearby swamp for bodies, while those of the unidentified victims were taken to the Mulago Hospital mortuary. 
 
 Burnt trucks being removed from the road
 
An estimated 30 people were admitted at Mulago Hospital with severe burns. Hundreds of people milled about the hospital as they sought to ascertain the fate of their loved ones. 
 
The death toll, according to sources at Mulago, was expected to rise as many survivors suffered severe burns. 
 
“The bodaboda cyclists and locals were using jerrycans and basins to tap fuel when one of the motorbikes’ exhaust pipe came into contact with the fuel, igniting the inferno,” narrated a witness. 
 
Victor Onyango, the Kenyan driver whose truck was partially burnt, said a Toyota Noah knocked the fuel tanker, resulting in a fuel leak. 
 
According to him, the driver of the fuel tanker did not stop immediately, but chose to proceed to a nearby Police post to “ensure safety and report the matter”. 
 
“This fuel tanker with fuel leaking drew the attention of a bodaboda motorcyclist, who started hooting and shouting as he called on others, notifying them of the incident,” Onyango recounted.
 
What remained of the boda bodas
  
Gerald Kiwewa, another witness, said while casting his net to catch fish in the nearby swamp, a friend (name withheld) – but one of the survivors – invited him to siphon off the leaking fuel. 
 
Kiweewa said his decision to ignore the friend proved a wise one as a few minutes later, his friend went running towards him, screaming in a ball of fire. 
 
“I dipped him in the black dirty swamp water but his lips, eyes, hair and his private parts were already severely burnt,” Kiweewa narrated. 
 
Godfrey Ssenyonga, 20, a resident of Nansana, said he was called on phone by a colleague (name also withheld) – another survivor – alerting him of the deal. 
 
When fire broke out, the friend fled the scene, dived into the swamp water and survived with severe injuries.
 
Speaking from Mulago Hospital, Ssenyonga explained that the fire was caused by a bodaboda rider, who kept revving his motorbike. 
 
“The bike produced thick-dark smoke; the exhaust pipe must have heated up and subsequently ignited the fire,” he explained.
 
According to Hassan Kihanda, the Police Fire Brigade’s deputy chief, the high death toll was due to the fact that the cyclist’s thick jackets were soaked in the highly inflammable fuel as they scrambled for it. 
 
Steven Kansiima, the Police traffic boss, decried the loss of lives, calling on the Government to ban fuel tankers from travelling at night.
 
RELATED 
 
PAST FUEL RALATED ACCIDENTS
• June 29, 2013: Accident on the Northern Bypass around Namungoona. At least 33 people burnt to death
• February 11, 2013: A fuel tanker burnt on the Lira-Kampala highway; no death reported.
• September 22, 2011: A fuel tanker destined for Uganda lost control and plunged into a ditch near Sio River Bridge on the Kisumu-Busia highway. Four people died on the spot, while 60 sustained severe injuries
• November 18, 2010: A fuel truck belonging to Total Company gutted by fire around Namagoma on the Kampala-Masaka highway injuring four people. No death occurred
• October 24, 2010: A KK bus from Koboko collided with a fuel truck in Nwoya district and burst into flames killing 20 people and injuring 15
• March 9, 2010: A fuel tanker burned down near Seeta trading centre in Mukono district killing three fire-fighters who were trying to put the fire out.

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