Driver risks his life to prevent fire disaster as fuel tanker explodes

A heroic driver's quick action prevented a tragedy at Rwika shopping centre in Mbeere South, Embu County, yesterday.

James Mugo Kangara jumped into a burning fuel tanker and drove it out of a petrol station before it burst into flames.

The tanker was consumed by the fiery flames about 200m away, with no injuries being reported in the 7am incident.

Kangara was offloading petrol at the pump station when he noticed fire on the lower part of the tanker.

He said he first tried to disconnect the pipes from the tanker but in vain.

He then decided that the only way to prevent a disaster was to drive the truck away.

“I managed to drive the burning tanker away from the shops and residential houses.

"I jumped out just in time before the tanker burst into flames and was reduced to a shell,” said the driver.

He revealed that he had ferried the fuel from Nairobi in the lorry registration number KBS 256D to Independent Petrol Station in Rwika market, which has tens of shops and other businesses.

Lucy Njiru, a witness, recalled hearing an explosion then she saw smoke. “We called the police and the fire brigade. They arrived later and helped put out the blaze before it spread to a nearby bush,” she said.

Mbeere South Police boss Ahmed Mohammed said investigations were on to establish the cause of the fire.