Date: August 28, 2018
Location: Lion’s Den, Mashonaland West (Zimbabwe)
Address: N/A
Type: Dust Explosion
Fuel: Grain Dust
Industry: Grain Processing (Agriculture)
Equipment: Grain Depot
Company: Grain Marketing Board
Database Incidents: None Recorded
Loss: Six Fatalities and Two Injured
Capital Cost: Unknown
Status: Open
Confirmation: Unconfirmed
Company Description:
According to its Bloomberg profile, the Grain Marketing Board was founded in 1931 and is based in Harare, Zimbabwe. It sells various forms of grain and processed products, such as rice, salt, and maize meal. It also provides contract farming, commercial training, commercial storage, grain fumigation, coffee processing, and silo maintenance services.
The GMB’s Lions Den silos have 29 silo bins, making them the second largest in Africa. In 2017 the government invested in the refurbishment of the silos, which were built in the 1970s.
Incident Description:
On August 28, 2018, ZWNews reported an explosion and fire at a grain depot in Lion’s Den, Zimbabwe. Six workers were killed while two others were seriously injured in the incident, which was so powerful that it tore through reinforced concrete structures, and caused a fire. Some people living near the depot reported cracked walls on their buildings, while pieces of the silo were flung several meters away. A local councillor said his home two kilometres away was shaken, making him initially assume that an earthquake had occurred.
Harare Blitz reported that the affected workers were cleaning the silos when the explosion occurred. Those who were inside tried but failed, to escape through the underground chamber outlet while those working on the top of the silos could not escape.
One worker said that the explosion occurred in the entrance to the depot, trapping people inside in the dark after the power went out. One of his friends was cut by a conveyor belt while some of the victims were burned beyond recognition. Two of the victims had commenced their duties minutes before the incident, having been called in to replace two workers who had been dismissed.
The depot manager said that they managed to put out the fire, which originated in the silo control plant, with assistance from a local farmer and two fire tenders. The depot has been temporarily closed as government agencies investigate the incident.
Some workers said the fire and resultant explosion could have been caused by an electrical fault. Others said it could have been an explosive device, while a build-up of the gases used to treat the maize grain in the storage infrastructure has also been cited as a potential cause.
Four people were killed immediately by the explosion and fire, while three others were taken to the hospital. One victim died from his burn injuries soon afterwards and, according to The Standard, the body of the sixth victim was found buried in the rubble four days after the explosion. It is not known what became of the two remaining hospitalized workers.
UPDATE [Aug 31, 2018]
Zimbabwe’s President Emmerson Mnangagwa released an official statement expressing condolences for the families of the four people who died after an explosion at GMB Lions Den, In addition, the president called for an inspection of all grain silos in the country to make sure that they meet all safety checks.
UPDATE [February 2019]
The death toll of this incident has risen to six. The report has been modified to include information available.
Sources:
ZWNews
Harare Blitz
Pindula News
