Three injured in Worcester tanker explosion | Western Cape Government

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Three injured in Worcester tanker explosion

11 July 2019

In the early hours of Wednesday morning, 10 July 2019, a tanker transporting liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) exploded in the industrial area of Worcester, 120 kilometers North-East of Cape Town.

The Minister of Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning, Anton Bredell, says the situation is currently under control with firefighters having commenced with damping down of the area.

“The Breede Valley Fire Department responded immediately and were on the scene within minutes. Three injuries have been reported, two firefighters with minor injuries and a civilian with burn injuries who has been admitted to the ICU. The good thing was that this incident occurred at a time of day when there was little traffic and few people around.”

Bredell says the situation report indicates that the driver of the tanker reversed into a lamp pole causing damage to the tank, releasing a vapour cloud.

“A civilian bakkie drove through the cloud causing a fire and the explosion. The driver of the bakkie is the civilian currently in ICU with some burn wounds,” Bredell says.

Five buildings and two vehicles (the tanker and the bakkie) were completely destroyed and another four buildings have been partially destroyed. There also appears to be some damage to the town’s water mains and electricity infrastructure in the immediate vicinity.

 Firefighters from Breede Valley Fire Department will remain on the scene until operations have been concluded.

 ENDS.

Media Enquiries: 

Media enquiries:

James-Brent Styan

Spokesperson for the Minister of Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning, Anton Bredell

Mobile:                   084 583 1670

Telephone:            021 483 2820

E-mail:                    James-Brent.Styan@westerncape.gov.za