IMG 20240524 WA0025
Picture courtesy: (Africanews)11 Workers lost their lives after tragic explosion at Mtimbwa Sugar Factory in Tanzania.
The incident took place at the high-end agricultural processing facility situated in the Morogoro region, renowned as one of the most significant sugar production areas.
The foreign nationals involved originated from neighboring countries such as China, Brazil, and India
Reports state that the explosion was triggered as workers were doing their daily routine preparations, getting the machinery ready to begin the day’s production.
The blast was caused by an electrical fault, resulting in the steam pipe bursting. The victims that lost their lives were machinery and electrical staff that were on duty in the control room the moment the untimely explosion occurred.
All of them were in close proximity to the steam pipe.
Only two workers were injured and got treated at the factory’s hospital, Marogoro Hospital, and later rushed to the capital, Dodoma, for further treatment, according to doctor David Ruchamisa.
The explosion took place at about 01:00 local time on Thursday, May 23 (23:00 GMT Wednesday) at the factory.
The emergency services responded quickly to the scene, but the intense explosion and fire made immediate rescue efforts challenging.
According to governmental data, the Mtibwa factory is one of Tanzania’s major sugar production factories and produces at least 70 000 metric tonnes of sugar every year.
After the untimely explosion at the factory, Mtibwa Sugar Factory has stopped production in the factory for the time being.
The lives lost from this unexpected event have sparked a national conversation about reforms and increased safety in the workplace, specifically in industries that might have hazardous conditions.
The workers rights organisations are advocating for more safety, protection, and proactive measures against the same incidents.
According to Shaban Marugujo, the Morogoro Region Fire and Rescue Service Commander, they are yet to figure out the source of the explosion at the factory that claimed lives.
The tragic event is a reminder of the risk faced by industrial workers on a daily basis. It highlights the fact that there is an urgent need for vigilance and strict safety precautions and standards.
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