A tanker truck exploded near the Tero Tero pump, on the side of Route 9 in the municipality of Yacuiba, Bolivia. The first police reports confirmed the death of a young welder, who along with another worker was carrying out welding tasks on the vehicle. The injured man was taken to the Rubén Zelaya Hospital, with serious burns. A similar accident occurred in Tartagal, Argentina, almost 20 years ago.
The explosion occurred around 10 p.m. Argentina Time (9 p.m. Bolivia Time), in a workshop located on the side of Route 9, heading north. Witnesses told officers who arrived at the scene that they heard a loud explosion and a tremor. It was established that the young welder was 20 years old and with his partner they were welding a plate on the tanker truck, but apparently they forgot to open the gates and the accumulated gases ended up causing the explosion.
By the force of the wave, the young man’s body; identified as Fanor Zelaya; It was found 30 meters from the welding point. His partner suffered serious burns and was transferred in critical condition to the Zelaya Hospital (even though the Fray Quebracho hospice was located 200 meters from the workshop); while the body of the deceased had to be covered while waiting for the arrival of the forensic doctor, due to the number of curious onlookers who approached.
Traffic along Route 9 was even more complicated by the expansion work that is being carried out near said sector and by the poor lighting in the area. The arrival of personnel from the Special Force to Fight Crime (FELCC), which was supposed to carry out expert reports on the incident, separated the curious people and the body of the unfortunate young man was transported in a force van (Radio Yacuiba).
