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🇹🇿 Tanzania /Disasters & Emergencies

TASAC and TPA investigate fire on oil tanker in Kigoma

From Mwananchi · () Swahili

Translated from Swahili and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News Official statement Under investigation
  • The MV Pacific caught fire after an explosion at Kigoma Port on Aug. 28 while preparing to sail after loading fuel.
  • Tanzania’s port and shipping authorities are investigating the cause, damage, crew safety and possible fuel leaks.
  • No deaths or injuries had been reported by 3:50 p.m., but the condition of all sailors had not been fully confirmed.

Authorities are investigating a fire and explosion aboard the oil tanker MV Pacific, which was anchored at Kigoma Port after loading fuel and preparing to sail. The incident occurred at about 2:30 a.m. on Aug. 28, 2026, according to the report.

The Tanzania Ports Authority said security and firefighting measures began immediately under port safety procedures. It said the cause of the fire and the scale of the damage remained under investigation. The tanker flies the flag of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The Tanzania Shipping Agencies Corporation said information confirmed through the vessel’s agent, Falcony Marines Transportation Limited, showed no reports of injuries or deaths by 3:50 a.m. However, the condition of the sailors aboard had not yet been fully verified. Fire and Rescue Force personnel continued working to contain and extinguish the blaze, which TASAC said had significantly weakened by that time.

However, the cause of the fire and the scale of the damage caused by the incident are still under investigation and assessment.

· Tanzania Ports AuthorityThe authority described the status of the investigation after the tanker caught fire.

The tanker is 42.6 metres long and can carry about 400 tonnes of cargo. TASAC said it was working with other authorities to assess the crew’s safety, the cause of the fire and explosion, damage to the vessel, and any possibility of fuel leakage or environmental effects. Authorities had not confirmed any spill or environmental damage. They urged residents to stay away from the scene and avoid circulating unverified information.

Edward Mabula, manager of the Lake Tanganyika ports, said the fire began in a faulty starting system that had been causing problems since the morning. He said sparks appeared when the captain tried to start the vessel as it prepared to move aside for another ship approaching the jetty. The supplied report ends while describing the incident.

The vessel had completed loading fuel at Kigoma Port and was preparing to sail when the fire broke out, and no damage to Kigoma Port infrastructure was reported.

· Tanzania Shipping Agencies CorporationTASAC provided an update on the vessel’s condition and the port.
About this summary

Originally published by Mwananchi in Swahili. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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