A fiery crash involving a semi-trailer carrying chemicals and a ute has led to evacuations and highway closures in Queensland, Australia. The incident occurred on the Bruce Highway at Bororen, 400 kilometers north of Brisbane, early on Friday morning.

The crash involved a B-double semi-trailer carrying ammonium nitrate, a chemical commonly used in artificial fertilizers, and a ute. The impact of the collision caused the semi-trailer to spill its chemical cargo, igniting a fire that spread across the highway. The truck driver was pulled from the vehicle by bystanders and was airlifted to Bundaberg Hospital with multiple injuries. The ute driver, who was assessed for life-threatening injuries at the scene, was also treated by paramedics.

Evacuation Ordered After Explosion

The situation escalated rapidly when the rear trailer of the semi-trailer, containing a larger quantity of chemicals, exploded shortly after emergency services took aerial footage of the scene. The explosion sparked a 2.5-kilometer exclusion zone around the crash site, prompting authorities to issue an emergency alert advising residents to leave immediately.

The alert, issued by Queensland Police, urged residents between Daisy Dell Road and Turkey Beach Road to evacuate due to the fire and chemicals released from the explosion. It also advised those unable to evacuate to shelter indoors, close windows and doors, and turn off their air conditioning.

Highway Closure and Cleanup Effort

Emergency services remain at the scene battling the blaze and cleaning up the spilled chemicals. The Queensland Fire and Emergency Service has declared it a “prolonged incident,” with more than five crews working to extinguish the fire and contain the chemical spill. The highway is expected to remain closed for an extended period of time.

"There’s significant debris across the highway for approximately 50 meters onto the other side of the highway,” said John Hodson-Gilmore, Acting Senior Operations Supervisor for the Queensland Ambulance Service. “The Bruce Highway between Bororen and Tannum Sands will be closed to all traffic for quite an extended period of time.”

Impact of the Chemical Explosion

The explosion has raised concerns about the potential environmental damage caused by the spilled chemicals. The impact of the chemicals on the surrounding environment is still being assessed by emergency services.

The incident serves as a stark reminder of the potential dangers associated with the transportation of hazardous materials. It also highlights the importance of emergency preparedness and swift response to such incidents. The investigation into the cause of the crash is ongoing, and authorities are working to determine the extent of the damage and the impact on the surrounding community.

An Ongoing Crisis

As of now, the highway remains closed, and the clean-up efforts are ongoing. The extent of the environmental damage is still being assessed. The incident underscores the importance of safe transportation of hazardous materials and the need for swift action in the event of such incidents. This event is a reminder of the potential consequences of accidents involving chemicals, and the vital role that emergency services play in mitigating the impact of such incidents.