MIRI – A fire involving a petrol station and oil tanker in Sibu town yesterday (July 27) was sparked off when a vehicle entered the station while the discharging of petrol to the underground tank was in progress.
But quick action by petrol station staff prevented a serious explosion from occurring.
Sg Merah Fire and Rescue Department chief Janggan Muling said that during the 10.30am incident, the oil tanker was about to unload the petrol when a van drove in to fill up fuel, creating sparks that ignited into flames, with fierce thick black smoke billowing from the underground tank.
Members of the public who were near the petrol station ran helter-skelter.
“Staff members of the petrol station quickly used 11 fire extinguishers to douse the flames, thereby preventing serious danger from happening,” he said.
A female worker at the station was rushed to Sibu Hospital due to minor injuries sustained from the incident.
Janggan said the incident served as a wake-up call to petrol stations that they needed to stop any vehicle from entering the station when the discharging of petrol is in progress.
Residents of Sibu town had a fright yesterday when a petrol station together with an oil tanker went up in flames, releasing gigantic plumes of black smoke that could be seen from miles away.
Its location – near the Sacred Heart School – could be seen to have thick, billowing smoke based on photographs posted by netizens.
The Sibu Fire and Rescue Department had deployed teams of firefighters to the site, with the police also on location to coordinate traffic control. – The Vibes, July 28, 2021
