Tense drama after gas tanker spills off road

The Guardia Civil, Civil protection and fire services mounted a full scale emergency operation yesterday after a tanker carrying 60 tons of propane gas came off the road in Esporlas. The security service prepared for the worst and police chiefs last night praised the swift response of the emergency units for having prevented a major disaster. The Guardia Civil received a call just before 10am reporting that the tanker had been involved in an accident on the road between Valldemossa and Esporlas. When the first of the Guardia Civil reached the scene, they realised that there had been no accident, but that the tanker was on the verge of rolling over. The recent rains had softened the grass verge by the side of the road and was unable to cope with the weight of the tanker which was found listing at an angle with the ground gradually giving way. A tow truck tried to pull the tanker out, but failed and at 11.20, when all the emergency services were in position at the scene the road was closed and the alarm raised in the event of the tanker exploding. Eventually, while firemen doused the tanker in water to keep the cargo cool, the truck was lifted clear by an industrial crane and by mid-day the road was finally re-opened.