An explosive robbery 
2003 Reader Submission
Pending Acceptance
A volcanic eruption had convinced most people to flee the town of Goma in DR Congo. Yet that didn't deter 50 to 60 people from trying to siphon off petrol from an abandoned petrol station. These people must have been brave considering the presence of lava actually inside the petrol station, and the volcanic smoke and fumes from the eruption.
They used plastic containers and oil drums to retrieve and carry away the stolen fuel, when one of the thieves dropped their oil drum on the lava flow. The resulting explosion caused the other containers to explode, which in turn caused the petrol station itself to explode. According to witnesses, further explosions could be seen several hours later, blasting flames and petrol drums 50 metres (160 feet) into the air.
The explosions and the lava made it impossible for rescue workers to get to the station, though they probably wouldn't have found much. An eyewitness said "I heard three loud, sharp explosions go off in short succession and then there was a great pall of smoke". Submitted on 06/23/2002
Submitted by:
David Bowgett
Reference:
BBC News, 21st January 2002
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