SAMOA – A report from an inquiry into the diesel fuel tank explosion at Apia’s Matautu Wharf three weeks ago has suggested a mixture of petroleum and diesel may have caused the tank explosion sparked by welding works.

Confirming he has received one of the reports from the investigation, Prime Minister, Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi said if there was only diesel in the tanks, the spectacular fire and explosion would not have happened.

“It is important to note that welding works were also done on the other two tanks but the explosion happened here (on the third tank,” Tuilaepa said.

“It’s suspected that there was a mixture of diesel and petrol but that has not been confirmed and I am waiting on rest of the reports. Once we have them, then we will assess exactly where the problem arose because we don’t know if the mixture of fuel happened here or from Fiji.

“So that is another area the petroleum agency needs to look into because it’s insured and it costs a lot of money.”

Tuilaepa said it is important to have insurance for fuel supplies considering the possibility of loss of profit.

“We have to be careful and be clear of what might have caused the fire and bearing in mind that one person lost his life from it, we need to ensure safety measures for the future.

“Because I tell you if it had happened to one of the bigger tanks, the explosion would’ve been worse and the fire would be hard to put out.”

According to an earlier statement from managing director of the Petroleum Products Supply responsible for the tanks, Fanene Samau Sefo, the maintenance work was legal and had a permit.

An employee from the company lost his life during maintenance work at the fuel tanks.

“They started work from the first tank, second and it was the third and last tank where the incident happened,” Fanene said.

“I cannot go into details about what might have caused the fire because there is an investigation into it.

“We are extremely saddened by the loss of an employee and we extend our condolences to his family and loved ones.”

He was 31-year-old father of one, Moemulinu’u Toleafoa Siaki, of Nu’u-fou.

His father Tole’afoa Siaki said they were still coming to terms with his son’s unexpected death.

“On that morning, he just woke me up and asked me to drop him and his wife off to their work places,” said Toleafoa.

Toleafoa said he did not think that that would be the last time he would see his son alive after he said goodbye with a smile.”

Toleafoa said he could not believe it when he was told that his son had died.

“I didn’t expect my son to be gone this early,” said Toleafoa.

“He was my greatest helper. I would just tell him what to do and he does it without a word. He was more than a son to me.”

Moemulinu’u was the only boy in a family of six girls.

“He was dearly loved and we are devastated.”

His grieving wife, Kuini Moemulinuu, spoke through her tears saying: “Moe was a good husband and a loving father. Not a minute goes by I don’t miss him, his smile and in everything that we do.”

Moemulinu’u and Kuini had been married for close to 10 years and the have a five-year-old daughter.

“It’s harder on my daughter,”Kuini told the Samoa Observer said. “She saw her father and she knows that he is already dead but when people ask her about him she says he is still sleeping.”

In the meantime, claims that the fire could have blown up the wharf, destroying a large part of the Apia waterfront and placing hundreds of lives at risk, have been rejected by Petroleum Products Supplies Ltd.

Managing Director, Fanene Samau Sefo, said there was no threat of the sort whatsoever.

“The tanks were designed in a way that it cannot be destroyed by a fire,” said Fanene. “I believe the evacuation was called for precautionary measures but with the fire alone, there wouldn’t have been a time when it would spread outside of the tank.” - Samoa Observer