Fuel tankers explode at Parika

…Fire Chief assures there was no environmental damages 

Fire Chief Marlon Gentle has confirmed that two fuel tankers exploded at Parika Outfall, on the East Bank of Essequibo, on Tuesday morning.

The explosion occurred at around 10:00hrs while an undisclosed number of persons were attempting to transfer fuel from the tankers into vessels. “Apparently they were transferring the fuel onto vessels to go somewhere in the interior, and one of the pumps on one of the tankers, while they were pumping the fuel into the boats, it malfunctioned and they had an explosion and one of the tanks ignited, and subsequently the second tanker ignited too,” the Fire Chief told Village Voice News.

He noted upon receiving a report of the fire, units from the Leonora Fire Station raced down to the scene, and were able to contain the blaze. “They used chemical foam and they were able to douse the fire. There were no damages to other structures or environmental damages but the fuel tankers, one was completely destroyed and the other one was heavily damaged,” Gentle further indicated.

Gentle said the Guyana Fire Service was informed that one of the drivers received burns to his body, and was rushed to a private hospital for medical attention. “We are trying to locate him,” the Fire Chief said.

At the time of the interview, Gentle told Village Voice News that the Fire Service had not ascertain the owner or owners of the fuel tankers that exploded.

An investigation into the incident is ongoing.