Explosion of a tank truck in Lemba: a tragedy that shakes the commune of Lemba
This Tuesday, August 8, the inhabitants of the Righini district and surroundings, in the commune of Lemba in Kinshasa, experienced a dramatic awakening with the explosion of a fuel tanker truck. This tragic incident caused the death of at least five people and led to significant property damage, including the destruction of several shops and stores along By pass Avenue.
According to Deputy High Commissioner Mambu Longa, based in Lemba, the tank truck from Kongo central arrived around 1:30 a.m. at Triangle station to drop off some belongings there. However, the vehicle’s pressure was not satisfactory, which forced it to reverse and crash into a utility pole, thus starting the fire.
Local authorities reported the provisional death toll at five, with some bodies still being identified. Rescue and firefighting teams quickly mobilized to put out the fire and evacuate the victims.
This tragedy has aroused great emotion among the population of Lemba, who helplessly witnesses the destruction of their neighborhood and the loss of human lives. Local authorities and relief organizations are currently working to assess the damage and provide support to the families of the victims.
This incident highlights once again the risks faced by residents of working-class neighborhoods, where security and maintenance of infrastructure often leave something to be desired. It also stresses the importance of strengthening security and control measures for vehicles transporting hazardous materials, in order to avoid such tragedies in the future.
The community of Lemba and beyond mourns the loss of innocent lives and hopes that action will be taken to prevent such accidents in the future. In the meantime, it is essential to support the families of the victims and to rebuild the devastated neighborhood, in order to restore hope and dignity to all those who have been affected by this tragedy