Huge explosion at a gas station in Rio Claro

Rio Claro, SP, Brazil - Jun 30, 2021

One of the victims of a truck explosion at a gas station died in Rio Claro (SP) early this Thursday (1st), Santa Casa reported. Truck driver Jovino Rocha de Andrade was confirmed dead at 4:10 am. He was 51 years old and was one of those rescued in serious condition. In an interview with Rádio CBN São Carlos, a friend said that he even called to say that he had lost a leg in the explosion and that he needed help. The accident on Wednesday night (30) left 22 injured in total, two of them seriously. Until the beginning of the morning of this Thursday, five people had been rescued to the Santa Casa, and 9 had been taken to the Basic Health Unit (UBS) of Ipeúna. Six of them had already been discharged and four were still hospitalized.

The explosion of the truck, which was loaded with chemicals, happened around 6:40 pm at the Confiante gas station, at km 175 of Washington Luís Highway (SP-310). The air displacement caused by the explosions caused damage to the gas station, the local restaurant and houses in the region within a radius of approximately 15 km, according to the Civil Defense.

According to the Fire Department, eight vehicles and ambulances from the Mobile Emergency Care Service (Samu) went to the scene to rescue the victims. Five victims were sent to the Municipal Emergency Room integrated into Santa Casa. The truck driver and a supply person arrived in serious condition and underwent surgery. They were transferred to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). The other victims had smoke inhalation and had second- and third-degree burns.

The lane on the Washington Luís highway towards the capital was blocked and traffic slowed down. A footbridge over the highway in front of the gas station was damaged. At least ten trucks that were at the station were hit by the explosion and caught fire. The wall of a company next door did not resist and collapsed. A cafeteria was also destroyed. In the place where the truck exploded, a hole of approximately two meters was formed and this morning it was possible to observe several twisted pieces of iron. According to Civil Defense, there is no risk of further explosions at the gas station. Civil Police expertise went to the scene this morning. Experts want to know how the fire started. According to Civil Defense, it is already known that the truck was leaking cargo and that the brake pad was very hot, which may have started combustion.

https://g1.globo.com/sp/sao-carlos-regiao/noticia/2021/07/01/morre-uma-das-vitimas-da-explosao-de-caminhao-em-posto-de-combustiveis-em-rio-claro.ghtml