Long distance truck driver suffers serious injuries after gas cylinder explodes at Malaba

The truck cabin that was reduced following a gas cylinder explosion in Malaba Town on Wednesday morning/IMAGE/HILTON OTENYO

A long-distance truck driver transporting wheat grains from the Port of Mombasa to Uganda suffered serious injuries after a gas cylinder exploded inside the cabin of his truck in Malaba on Wednesday morning.

The injured driver was rushed to Kocholia Sub-County Hospital, where he received first aid before being transferred to Busia County Referral Hospital for specialiaed treatment.

The driver is suspected to have been preparing his breakfast and to have dozed off before the cylinder exploded, damaging the truck cabin.

The container was not damaged in the incident. Teso North Sub-County Police Commander Charles Chepkong'a confirmed the incident.

“The driver sustained serious facial and hand injuries following the explosion inside the cabin,” Chepkong'a said.

Sources at the scene said the driver had parked near a lodge for an overnight rest before resuming his journey to Uganda.

The police boss said quick action by members of the public and the fire brigade prevented the fire from spreading to other trucks parked nearby.

Police intervention averted a potential catastrophe, as several long-distance fuel tankers were temporarily rerouted through Angurai, while trucks carrying non-hazardous goods were allowed to proceed to the One-Stop Border Post.

He said investigations were ongoing to establish the cause of the fire, adding that arrangements were underway to transfer the consignment to an alternative trailer for delivery to its final destination.

The incident has renewed calls for the Busia government to return the Malaba Municipality fire engine, which was previously stationed at the Amagoro Police Patrol Base but was later relocated to the Busia County headquarters.

The incident comes barely three days after a devastating fire razed at least six business premises in Malaba town, destroying property worth millions of shillings.

The inferno, which broke out at around 2:00am on Saturday, consumed shops, hotels, boutiques, and miraa kiosks, leaving traders counting heavy losses.

Several affected business owners blamed the Busia County Government for a delayed response, saying the fire engine arrived long after the blaze had spread.