The Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (UCAA) said that the fire which broke out at Entebbe International Airport’s fuel firm was contained and operations have resumed.
On Tuesday reopened its Entebbe International Airport after operations were temporarily suspended following a fire outbreak earlier in the day, the country’s aviation regulator said.
Fred Bamwesige, the acting director-general Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (UCAA) says the safety, security team and firefighters were dispatched to stop the fire from spreading to other jet fuel tanks.
According to Bamwesige, the extent of what has been damaged and the cause of the fire are yet to be determined. The jet fuel tanks are less than 50 metres from the passenger terminal and at least 60 metres from the airside.
The airport currently has two jet fuel tanks and a hydrant. However, due to safety and security concerns, UCAA has set up four fuel tanks and a hydrant at least a kilometre away from the airside.
The new site for the fuel tanks is near Lake Victoria shores. The tanks can store 10 million litres at ago.
Fire at the @UgandaCAA Entebbe airport fuel depot.@PoliceUg @KampalaTraffic pic.twitter.com/9H2yyQcu0a
— Buni Christopher S. (@BuniChristopher) May 18, 2021