Alberton residents evacuated following fuel spill
The Ekurhuleni Emergency Management Services evacuated scores of residents on Wednesday following a fuel spillage from a pipeline in the Thinasonke area of Alberton.
According to authorities, the petrol came from a Transnet pipeline that was tampered with on Tuesday.
EMS spokesperson William Ntladi said a large amount of fuel was stolen.
"There is a fuel line that has been tampered with that was damaged, and it is alleged that a copious of petrol, 95 octane, has seeped through into the soil.
"The pressure was detected to lower down over the night. Our teams from the City of Ekurhuleni and Transnet said they are on-site with their rehabilitation and mitigation strategies.
"The residents are asked for their compliance and cooperation. We are pushing them to a one-kilometre radius. The issue of safety has been taken into deep consideration.
"The flammability of the fuel is quite high," he warned.
