BLANTYRE-(MaraviPost)-Malawi Police Service are currently investigating a fire that destroyed the horse of a fuel tanker carrying 35,000 litres of petrol from Beira, destined for the National Oil Company of Malawi (Nocma), at Salafosi in Neno along the Mwanza–Zalewa road.
Neno Police spokesperson Rebecca Msoliza said the incident occurred yesterday when the driver, Thompson Kanyamula, noticed flames coming from the front tyres of the tanker.
Upon spotting the fire, Kanyamula immediately stopped the vehicle to prevent the blaze from spreading.
He quickly disconnected the batteries and uncoupled the trailer from the horse to reduce the risk of the fuel catching fire.
People nearby rushed to assist the driver in extinguishing the flames before they could cause further damage.
According to Msoliza, the horse of the truck was completely destroyed by the fire, leaving it beyond repair.
Fortunately, the trailer, which was fully loaded with fuel, was not damaged, preventing what could have been a major disaster.
Police are continuing investigations to determine the exact cause of the fire as authorities stress the importance of safety measures when transporting large volumes of fuel.