North Kyoga fire brigade and rescue services have launched an investigation into a recent incident involving a fuel tanker that overturned and caught fire on the 30th of June, 2023, at approximately 9:25 in the morning. The incident took place in the middle of the road, raising concerns about public safety.
According to the statement releases by SP Patrick Jimmy Okema, the PRO-North Kyoga on Saturday morning, the alarm was raised by Odwar Geoffrey, a 48-year-old chairman of LC II Amwa parish, Mwenye Sub-County in Oyam District. Odwar reported that a fuel truck was ablaze at Amwa headquarters along the Kamdini-Gulu highway.
Promptly responding to the report, a team of police officers led by OC Station Kamdini swiftly arrived at the scene. They immediately informed CPS Oyam District, which also dispatched personnel after notifying both the North Kyoga Fire Brigade and Aswa Regions.
The combined efforts of the responding units were successful in extinguishing the fire, preventing further damage and potential hazards.
Preliminary findings suggest that the fuel truck caught fire as a result of an accident. During the incident, the driver and conductor managed to escape from the truck while it was already engulfed in flames.
However, their current whereabouts remain unknown as they were reportedly taken away by an unidentified vehicle to an undisclosed destination.
Due to the intensity of the fire, the truck’s number plates were completely burnt and rendered unrecognizable. It is suspected that the original number plates belonged to South Sudan, known for using aluminum number plates.
The cause still remain unclear though the authorities are actively conducting inquiries to determine the exact cause of the accident that led to the ignition of the fuel truck. Additionally, efforts are underway to establish the correct number plates of the vehicle and gather information regarding the occupants’ location.
In the meantime, the authorities urge the public to remain vigilant and prioritize road safety at all times to prevent such incidents from occurring in the future.
