A massive fire broke out at Biomax Fuels Limited (BFL), a bio-diesel manufacturing unit in the Visakhapatnam Special Economic Zone (VSEZ), Duvvada area in the city last night, officials said
Visakhapatnam: A massive fire broke out at Biomax Fuels Limited (BFL), a bio-diesel manufacturing unit in the Visakhapatnam Special Economic Zone (VSEZ), Duvvada area in the city last night, officials said.
No casualties were reported in the incident, they said.
ADVERTISEMENT
Representational picture
Biomax Fuels Ltd has a manufacturing capacity of five lakh tonnes of bio-diesel from multi-feedstock at VSEZ. There are about 15 storage tanks and the blaze spread to the 11 of them.
"Eight fire engines reached the spot and two fire engines with chemical foam were requisitioned from HPCL and Eastern Naval Command to put off the fire," District Fire Officer J M Rao said.
Visakhapatnam district collector Yuvaraj said 12 tanks of crude oil and biodiesel caught the fire, which broke out around 7.30 p.m. Tuesday. Six of them tanks blew up with huge explosions.
Officials said efforts were being to contain the flames from reaching six other fuel tanks in the factory premises.
Officials said fire could come under control after the fuel in the tanks which are on fire is completely burnt. Each of these tanks has a capacity of 3,000 litres and were filled between 30 to 70 percent.
Foam fire engines from Visakha Shipyard and Visakha Steel Plant were battling to control the fire since last night. Navy and Visakhapatnam Port were also helping in dousing the fire.
State minister G. Srinivas Rao said two company employees sustained minor injuries while others present in the premises escaped to safety.
The huge fire triggered panic among residents in adjoining residential areas.A Authorities evacuated few areas.
The fire believed to have resulted in a loss of aroundARs.200 crore.A The cause of the fire is still not known.
Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here!
