By Johnathan Paoli
Ekurhuleni’s Disaster and Emergency Management Services (DEMS) have begun evacuating residents from the Thinasonke RDP housing project, east of Alberton, following a hazardous fuel spill caused by suspected criminal activity.
DEMS spokesperson William Ntladi said that a multidisciplinary team, including the South African Police Service, is managing the evacuation and conducting a thorough investigation into the incident.
“The rescue teams are here to monitor the situation. We are working together with the EMPD and 14 firefighters on site. The residents have been evacuated and there are no casualties,” Ntladi said.
Emergency teams were dispatched on Tuesday night after reports of tampering with an underground fuel pipeline.
The damaged line, which stretches several kilometres, was transporting 95-octane petrol.
Preliminary investigations indicate that a significant quantity of fuel was stolen from the pipeline, with the remaining fuel seeping into the surrounding soil.
Ntladi highlighted the severe risks associated with
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