Rubis filling station tank explosion has claimed the life of a 41-year-old boilermaker from Kitwe, the Daily Mail has reported.
The victim, James Banda, died on Sunday morning at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of Kitwe Teaching Hospital (KTH), where he had been receiving treatment following the incident.
According to the report, Mr. Banda was engaged on Friday around 15:00 hours to work on an underground fuel tank at the station located opposite Mukuba Pension House.
The report stated that the victim was grinding the underground petrol tank when fire came into contact with the fuel, triggering an explosion.
Copperbelt Province Police Commanding Officer Mwala Yuyi said the blast left Mr. Banda with severe burns and fractured hands. He added that the explosion also damaged the grinder he was using, as well as the iron sheets of the shelter at the filling station.
Mr. Yuyi said the victim was rushed to KTH, where he remained under treatment until he passed away.
Renovation works at the filling station have since been halted, with residents expressing concern over the safety of workers at the facility.
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