No fewer than three persons were reported dead while several others were injured in a tanker explosion in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, on Tuesday.
The Director of the Ogun State Emergency Management Agency, Ige Olufolarin, who confirmed the incident said the victims were burnt “beyond recognition” when the fuel-laden tanker exploded.
He said, “About seven vehicles and five motorcycles were also burnt in the explosion. “The incident occurred along presidential Boulevard, near Guarantee Trust Bank, opposite Lawson Group School, Kuto, Abeokuta. “It was gathered that the tanker which was coming from Sagamu-Siun-Oke-Mosan Road climbed the overhead bridge lost control of the vehicle while descending from the bridge.”
Eyewitnesses said the tanker collided with a motorcycle that was in motion and rammed into some commercial vehicles waiting for passengers at the end of the bridge. The tanker immediately exploded and the fire soon spread to other vehicles in the neighbourhood. The explosion has thrown residents and passers-by into panic as many motorists started making reversing to find alternative routes within the metropolis.
The PUNCH correspondent who witnessed the occurrence noted that the corpses of the three victims have been evacuated. The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, the Federal Road Safety Corps and the Police were at the scene for a consolidated operation. While speaking with journalists, Olufolarin said seven vehicles, six motorcycles were burnt while four persons were injured.
He added, “We don’t want conflicting figures. Three persons are now confirmed dead. Their bodies have been evacuated. According to an eyewitness, the incident occurred a few minutes past 8 am and was caused by a brakes’ failure on the part of the tanker. The Sector Commander, Federal Road Safety Corps, Ahmed Umar also established that three people died in the incident while several others were injured, adding that both the dead and injured were taken to the Federal Medical Center (FMC), Idi Aba, Abeokuta.
“The cause of the accident is still under investigation we'll have to conduct a thorough investigation but it was an accident involving a tanker loaded with Premium Motor Spirit which fell and caught fire which affected other vehicles. “Our men are still there with the fire service to contain the fire and further spread of the fire,” he said.
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