One person has been confirmed dead after four trucks caught fire in a multiple accident involving a petrol/diesel tanker and three other trucks transporting goods to Uganda and other Great Lakes Region at Koteko area in Teso North, Busia County.
Eyewitnesses said the incident that occurred shorty after 11.30 pm on Friday night allegedly caused by a diesel tanker and a truck carrying a container when they allegedly tried to overlap and avoid the snarl up that currently stretches over 15km.
The fuel tanker lost control before overturning in the middle of the road.
Consequently, it exploded owing to the impact. The ensuing large balls of fire spread to three other trucks ferrying goods.
Police pulled out the body of the fuel tanker with occupants of the other trucks believed to have escaped unhurt.
Witness accounts indicate that the said drivers and their turn boys took off to escape death while trucks behind reversed to avoid catching fire.
The incident came on the same day when another fuel tank rolled at Ikapolok with the Busia County Fire Engine coming to the rescue which consumed most part of the day before normalcy returned.
Teso North Sub County Police Commander (OCPD) Mr Wilson Muraya had a hectic time controlling the surging crowd before the fire engine arrived at the scene about 30 minutes later.
The brigades managed to contain the inferno.
Plans by the County Government to procure a fire engine for Malaba is already in the offing after the County Assembly approved the budget of Sh55 million for the modern engine.