An Emergency Alert (Leave Immediately) has been issued to Bororen from the Queensland Police Service. A hazardous chemical incident has occurred on the Bruce Highway between Daisy Dell Road and Turkey Beach Road at Bororen. Police have put in place a 2.5 kilometre exclusion zone. Residents within the exclusion zone are advised to Leave Immediately. If you cannot leave, shelter indoors, and close your windows and doors, and turn off your air conditioning.
The incident occurred early on Friday morning, August 30, when a truck carrying ammonium nitrate collided head-on with a ute. The collision caused the truck to burst into flames, and the ammonium nitrate ignited, leading to a large explosion.
The Queensland Ambulance Service reported that one patient was being assessed for life-threatening injuries, and the other was in a serious but stable condition. The truck driver was pulled from his vehicle by bystanders shortly before the truck caught fire. He suffered serious abdominal and leg injuries, as well as minor head injuries, and was flown to Bundaberg Hospital. The condition of the ute driver is still unknown.
Emergency services remain on the scene, with a helicopter also deployed. Nearby homes have been evacuated, with a 2.5km exclusion zone in place. The Queensland Fire Department has issued an alert saying that anyone who is in the area should leave immediately. If you cannot leave, shelter indoors, and close your windows and doors, and turn off your air conditioning.
The road is currently closed in both directions, with motorists asked to avoid the area and seek alternative travel routes. Long delays are expected. For up to date travel information, visit QLD Traffic.
This is the third major crash on the Bruce Highway in central Queensland this week. The highway was closed for almost 24 hours after a five-truck pile-up at Gindoran on Tuesday. On Thursday, a man in his 20s was injured in a truck rollover at Colosseum near Miriam Vale.
The Bruce Highway is a 1,679-kilometre critical link along Queensland's east coast from Brisbane to Cairns. It is notorious for its high number of accidents. The recent series of accidents has prompted calls for major upgrades and investments into the highway.
At a press conference on Friday, Queensland Premier Steven Miles denied claims that funding for the highway had stalled. He said that $6 billion had been allocated to projects on the Bruce at the moment.
The Bruce Highway will likely remain closed in both directions for some time. Emergency services are urging motorists to avoid the area and seek alternative travel routes.
The Aftermath of the Explosion
The explosion caused significant damage to the highway and surrounding area. Debris was scattered across a 50-meter radius. The Queensland Fire Department, under the guidance of Queensland Police aerial footage, had decided not to approach the scene initially due to the ongoing fire and risk of further explosions. Approximately 15 minutes later, the smaller tanker full of ammonium nitrate exploded.
Residents living near the scene of the crash are being evacuated due to concerns about the release of hazardous materials into the atmosphere. The Gladstone Regional Council has set up a refuge center at the Miriam Vale Community Centre for those who have been displaced.
A Tragic Week on the Bruce Highway
The Bruce Highway has been the scene of several serious crashes this week, including the five-truck pile-up at Gindoran on Tuesday, the truck rollover at Colosseum on Thursday, and the explosion at Bororen on Friday. The crashes have highlighted the dangers of this vital stretch of road.
The recent series of accidents on the Bruce Highway has prompted calls for major upgrades and investments into the highway. The Queensland government has said that $6 billion has been allocated to projects on the Bruce at the moment, but some industry commentators have said that this is not enough.
A Call for Action
The Bruce Highway is a vital link for the Queensland economy, and it is essential that it is safe for all road users. The recent series of accidents has highlighted the need for urgent action to be taken to improve the safety of this highway.
The Queensland government has said that it is committed to improving the safety of the Bruce Highway, but more needs to be done to address the problems that have been highlighted by these recent accidents. The government must invest more resources into improving the safety of the highway, and it must work with the trucking industry to develop a comprehensive plan to improve the safety of this vital stretch of road.
