Pretoria - Internal investigations are under way to determine what caused a petrol tanker to explode outside the Waltloo depot in the early hours of Sunday morning.
Police officers said officials from Total South Africa had not specified if any charges would be laid, as internal investigations were being instituted.
At least 55 000 litres of petrol were in the tanker when it exploded.
Tshwane Emergency Services spokesman Johan Pieterse said the fire looked like it started in the driver’s cabin. When the driver failed to bring it under control, it spread to the tankers.
“In the process, 55 000 litres of petrol burnt out and the front trailer ruptured. We only just managed to extinguish the fire before the second trailer could burst,” he said. “It was quite a massive blaze, and took emergency personnel an hour to put it out.”
Pieterse said the response to the fire was quick as four stations with 25 staff members were on the scene shortly after it was reported to emergency services.
The fire was believed to have started at about 8am, and the driver of the vehicle was unharmed.
“Exact details as to what happened or what caused the fire are still to be investigated by the depot’s company representatives. The driver is still being questioned,” he said.
Pieterse said it appeared the fire was started because of a fault with the truck.
Total South Africa spokesman Nadia Vosloo said there were no injuries and the company was working with the authorities to establish the cause of the fire.
“As health, safety and the environment is of the utmost importance to Total, our emergency response management was immediately activated.
“The emergency services were called to the scene, the area was cordoned off and the fire extinguished,” Vosloo added.
Pretoria News