Cancun, Q.R. — A tanker carrying thousands of liters of jet fuel overturned outside Cancun early Thursday morning. Firemen from the neighboring municipality were called to help deal with the accident scene after emergency services learned of the semi’s explosive load.
Civil Protection from Cancun along with firefighters from the the Lázaro Cárdenas Fire Department were at the scene after 9:30 a.m. reports of the accident. The vehicle was transporting 33,000 liters of jet fuel when it left the federal highway and rolled into a ditch.
National Guard shut the highway to general traffic due to the risk of an explosion or spill. The road was only opened to facilitate access to rescue teams since the tanker was found heavily damaged.
There has not been any information on what caused the accident. The entire area was shut for several hours Thursday. Shortly after noon, Bomberos Cancun reported briefly on the accident.
“We are responding to a rollover of a pipe-type trailer at kilometer 224+200 of the Merida-Cancun highway. The trailer is transporting 33,000 liters of turbocine. We are following all safety protocols to avoid a greater danger,” the Cancun Fire Department posted.
Authorities are still investigating what caused the double long tanker to leave the highway and roll into the ditch. Although the cab of the semi was destroyed, the driver was not seriously injured.