Major oil spill at Total petrol station in Manor Park

There were anxious moments in Manor Park, St Andrew this morning as fuel gushed from a tank truck which had just pulled up at the Total petrol station.

It happened about 7:25 a.m.

Total reported that about a quarter of the fuel in the front compartment of the tank spilled.

NOW: Major oil spill at Total petrol station in Manor Park, St Andrew. Area cordoned as members of the Fire Brigade seek to clean up. Eyewitness say a petrol tank truck entered the station to make a delivery when suddenly fuel started gushing from the front section of the tank pic.twitter.com/FYdfI3Fxax

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— Jamaica Gleaner (@JamaicaGleaner) May 14, 2019

Members of the Jamaica Fire Brigade were quick on the scene to wash the area and sprinkle saw dust.

The petrol tank truck had entered the station to make a delivery.

A team from the National Environment and Planning Agency has since arrived on the scene to probe the oil spill.

According to Christopher Okonmah, Total's managing director, an estimated 400 to 500 litres of fuel spilled on the forecourt.

However, he said three pits on the compound captured most of the fuel and none of it left the property.

In the meantime, Okonmah said the petrol station will be closed until midday to clear the smell of hydrocarbon and to facilitate further clean up operations.

Okonmah also said waste disposal contractors will be called in to clear the concrete pits that captured the spill.

He was not immediately able to say how much money has been lost as a result of the incident but said it has affected sales.

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