A temporary closure was enforced at a petrol station in Mombasa’s Saba Saba area after attendants detected fumes emanating from one of the fuel tanks on Tuesday, April 16. The discovery, initially reported by a vigilant station attendant, prompted immediate action due to the tank’s sizable capacity of 30,000 liters of Super Petrol.
The attendant promptly alerted the Mombasa County fire department, which swiftly responded by evacuating motorists and nearby residents as a precautionary measure. The following day, a multi-agency team convened at the site to conduct a thorough inspection and assessment of the closed petrol station.
Collaborating closely with the station owner, the team identified a malfunction in the tanker’s fume conductor as the root cause of the issue. To mitigate potential risks, repairs were promptly initiated.
Mombasa County Chief Fire Officer Ibrahim Mossefat explained that the team took measures to seal the tank’s lid opening, preventing further oxygen intake that could exacerbate the situation, particularly given the highly flammable nature of Super Petrol.
The swift response and coordinated efforts of the multi-agency teams were commended by the Mombasa Red Cross team, who arrived on-site to provide support. Their prompt actions and effective communication in alerting authorities about the leak were credited with potentially saving numerous lives.
