Morogoro, Tanzania – A tragic explosion at a sugar factory in Morogoro Region of eastern Tanzania claimed the lives of three workers from Brazil, Kenya, and India, along with eight Tanzanian technicians, and left two others seriously injured. The incident took place early Thursday at the Mtibwa sugar factory in Kilombero District, as reported by local officials.
According to Morogoro Regional Fire and Rescue Commander Shaban Marujugo, the explosion occurred around 1:00 a.m. local time. The blast specifically targeted the control room where technicians were testing a newly installed heating system for sugar production. An electrician at the plant, Juma Ramadhan Palamba, shared that the explosion was triggered by a burst pipe releasing steam into a boiler.
The newly set up heating system was on track to commence operations on Friday, Palamba mentioned, revealing that his fortuitous absence from the control room at the time of the explosion spared him from harm. In the aftermath, a Tanzanian technician and a Brazilian technician sustained injuries and were promptly transferred to Benjamin Mkapa Hospital in Dodoma for specialized medical care.
Following the devastating explosion, Morogoro Regional Commissioner Adam Malima invoked a three-day halt on the sugar factory’s operations to facilitate a thorough investigation by the Tanzania Fire and Rescue Force into the root cause of the accident. Additionally, Minister of Industry and Trade Ashatu Kijaji and Minister of Agriculture Hussein Bashe expressed solidarity with the factory’s management, offering government assistance in repairing the damages inflicted by the blast.
As the government liaised with the embassies of the deceased foreign technicians to arrange for their funerals, the sugar factory management extended its support by covering the funeral expenses. This tragic event has not only resulted in loss of life but has also underscored the importance of stringent safety measures in industrial settings to prevent similar incidents in the future.