One Dead and Town Evacuated After Chemical Spill and Explosion on Bruce Highway, Queensland

Picture reveals the aftermath of a deadly crash on the Bruce Highway early Friday 31st morning, where a utility vehicle collided with a truck carrying 42.5 tonnes of ammonium nitrate, leading to a fatality.

The driver of the ute lost his life, while bystanders rescued the truck driver, who sustained injuries to his abdomen, legs, pelvis, head, and arms.

Footage shared by Queensland Police highlights a severely damaged section of the highway, with warnings now issued to locals and travellers that this vital stretch could remain closed for several days.

Reports suggest that the B-Double truck caught fire, causing its contents to leak onto the road.

The incident occurred around 5 am in the rural area of Bororen, with a significant explosion following at around 9:40 am, reportedly audible over 50 kilometres away.

Authorities instructed Bororen residents to evacuate immediately. The small town, located roughly 400 kilometres north of Brisbane in the Gladstone Region, was directly impacted.

In a 9:45 am emergency alert, Queensland Police stated, “A hazardous chemical incident has taken place on the Bruce Highway between Daisy Dell Road and Turkey Beach Road at Bororen.” They further advised that a 2.5-kilometre exclusion zone was established, urging residents within this area to evacuate immediately. For those unable to leave, the advice was to shelter indoors, closing all windows and doors and switching off air conditioning. By 5:35 pm, the emergency alert for Bororen was lifted, allowing residents to return home.

Queensland Fire and Emergency Services (QFES) classified it as a “prolonged incident,” with multiple firefighting teams working to extinguish the fire and manage the chemical spill.

Image credit: QPS