Tombel: Houses, properties razed as clandestine fuel warehouse explodes.

The explosion is said to have started from a clandestine fuel warehouse, belonging to a local dealer in illicit fuel, commonly known as ‘Funge or Zoa-Zoa’. 

The warehouse is said to have been at the residence of a popular ‘Zoa-Zoa’ dealer at the Dschang neighbourhood of Tombel.

We gathered that a truck is said to have arrived to deliver fuel at the said residence, when the incident occurred.

Reports hold that it was in the course of offloading the content of the truck that one of the containers where fuel was stored, got burst.

The inflammable liquid later caught fire, destroying the warehouse before spreading to three different houses and a car that was stationed nearby.

Reports indicate that it took the bravery of the youth of Tombel, and the assistance of curious onlookers, to contain the flames from the ravaging fire.

Informed of the situation, the Divisional Officer, DO, of Tombel, Nyam Leonard and the Member of Parliament, MP, for Kupe-Muanenguba (Tombel and Bangem), Hon Cecilia Dione EpieNjumbe, rushed to the scene for an on-the-spot assessment of the damage caused.

The DO has since blamed the incident on the negligence of the dealer. He has also condemned the use of illicit fuel in the Subdivision. 

“The administration of Tombel Subdivision has been at war with dealers of illicit fuel, because Tombel itself can boost of a fuel station, where people can access the commodity,” he noted.

While calling for investigation into the matter, the Divisional Officer has called on the population to take all necessary measures to avoid such ugly incidents.

We gathered that the Senior Divisional Officer, SDO, of Kupe-Muanenguba Division, Williams Ekema Mungambo, yesterday visited the scene of the incident.