The dangers of mishandling liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) for home use have come into sharp focus after two cars were destroyed by fire in Bulawayo this month.
Earlier in the month, a Honda Fit was completely burnt out at Manyenziwe Shopping Centre in Nkulumane 12 after illegally sold gas exploded.
Then on Monday night, another vehicle was reduced to a shell following a suspected gas explosion, believed to have been caused by a poorly sealed gas cylinder.
The incident happened just after the traffic lights near the Amakhosi Cultural Centre, shortly after the driver had filled the gas cylinder.
Bulawayo Chief Fire Officer Mhlangano Moyo confirmed the incident, saying the vehicle caught fire when the driver started the engine. He said:
It happened near the Amakhosi Old Falls road. What happened is that he filled the gas tank in town, and the suspicion is that it was not fully closed.
While on route home, there was a lot of smell which made him stop the vehicle to check, but when he turned on the ignition, the vehicle went up in flames due to static electricity from the leaking gas cylinders.
More: Chronicle
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