Fire engulfs petrol tankers and bus at Harare garage during suspected fuel siphoning
A devastating fire broke out at Matozi Garage in the Willowvale area of Harare, reducing four petrol tankers and a bus to mere shells.
The incident occurred while alleged fuel dealers were reportedly engaged in illegal fuel siphoning, leading to a fiery inferno. Authorities have launched investigations into the incident, suspecting the garage of being involved in illicit fuel activities.
According to National Police Spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi, the incident took place at Matozi Garage at 344 Budgetway Close, Willowvale on Tuesday at around 7pm. Initial findings suggest that the fire erupted while fuel dealers were in the process of siphoning fuel from one of the tankers. The intense blaze quickly engulfed the vehicles, leaving them severely damaged.
“Investigations carried out so far by the police have established that the garage was being used for illegal fuel dealings. It is suspected that the fire broke out while the fuel dealers were siphoning fuel from one of the tankers,” Assistant Commissioner Nyathi revealed.
The police are now working diligently to gather further evidence and shed light on the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Sadly, this is not the first occurrence of such incidents. Back in 2013, an incident in Bulawayo saw a fuel tanker at a service station reduced to a mere shell, while another tanker had its horse completely destroyed. These incidents highlight the dangers of illegal fuel activities and the potential risks they pose to both individuals involved and the surrounding environment.
