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Exploding truck injures eight and damages fire engines in outback Exploding truck injures eight and damages fire engines in outback
(about 3 hours later)
Eight people, including four firefighters and a police officer, have been injured in a truck explosion in outback Queensland. A truck carrying volatile chemicals in outback Queensland exploded with such force that residents more than 30km away thought an earthquake had occurred.
Eight people, including four firefighters and a police officer, were injured when a truck carrying 50t of ammonium nitrate exploded in outback Queensland.
Emergency crews were called to a truck rollover on the Mitchell Highway, about 30km south of Charleville in Queensland’s southwest, about 9.30pm on Friday.Emergency crews were called to a truck rollover on the Mitchell Highway, about 30km south of Charleville in Queensland’s southwest, about 9.30pm on Friday.
But the truck exploded after crews arrived, injuring eight people. The male truck driver sustained serious but not life-threatening injuries and was airlifted to Brisbane.
The force of the blast destroyed a bridge, cutting off the main route between Charleville and nearby Wyandra.
It also severely damaged two fire trucks at the scene.
Charleville residents reported feeling the blast shake their homes.
“At my oldies place near the scout hall ... a boom, rumbling thunder sound from the south east, passed through the house rattling the ceiling and windows,” Mark Scott wrote on Facebook.
“We looked at each other, mum said ‘that’s a bloody big possum jumping over the roof!’”
Blast aerial close-up reveals Highway and Railway destroyed near Charleville @7NewsBrisbane pic.twitter.com/wnNnMsEofaBlast aerial close-up reveals Highway and Railway destroyed near Charleville @7NewsBrisbane pic.twitter.com/wnNnMsEofa
But the truck, carrying about 50 tonnes of ammonium nitrate, exploded after crews arrived, injuring eight people. Paula-Ann Russell said she felt “the whole house moving”.
The male truck driver sustained serious but not life-threatening injuries and was airlifted to Brisbane. A Geoscience Australia spokesman said several concerned residents had reported an earthquake.
A Queensland Fire and Emergency Services (QFES) spokesman said two of the four injured firefighters were still recovering in hospital after the incident.A Queensland Fire and Emergency Services (QFES) spokesman said two of the four injured firefighters were still recovering in hospital after the incident.
The police officer, the two other firefighters and two men who witnessed the crash all received minor injuries and were taken to Charleville Hospital for treatment.The police officer, the two other firefighters and two men who witnessed the crash all received minor injuries and were taken to Charleville Hospital for treatment.
“The fire appliances in attendance sustained extensive damage due to the explosion,” the QFES spokesman said. “QFES will continue to monitor the situation as the incident is expected to be protracted for a couple of days.”“The fire appliances in attendance sustained extensive damage due to the explosion,” the QFES spokesman said. “QFES will continue to monitor the situation as the incident is expected to be protracted for a couple of days.”