A large fire broke out, on Monday 19th February, in the old crude oil reservoir located in Porto da Matola, in Maputo (Mozambique).
The tank, inoperative for 40 years, was in the process of being restored when welding work caused the flames, according to the Mozambican newspaper “O País”.
According to that publication, the fire consumed the entire reservoir, causing a huge column of black smoke that could be seen from several kilometers away.
The situation generated great commotion and chaos on site, with entry and exit from Porto da Matola being restricted.
Two fire engines were mobilized to fight the fire. The aftermath operation lasted around 10 minutes and resulted in the flames being completely extinguished. Fortunately, there were no reports of victims or serious material damage.
Petromoc, the company responsible for the reservoir, appealed for calm and serenity among the population and users of the terminal and Port of Maputo.
The company guarantees that it is working to determine the causes of the fire and take the necessary measures to prevent similar situations from recurring in the future.
