At least 95 people have so far been confirmed dead from a petrol tanker explosion in Rivers state today.
Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps in the state, Kayode Olagunju said that the tanker crashed into three other vehicles at Okobe on Ahoada -Mbiama on the East -West road in Rivers state around 6:30am this morning. Residents were scooping fuel from the fallen tanker when it exploded, he posted on his Facebook wall.
"Casualty figures on the Okobe tanker crash on Ahoada - Mbiama on the East-West road in Rivers state as at 13:00 hrs. 93 died on the spot (burnt), 2 died in the hospital, making 95 deaths, while 18 persons were injured. 4 vehicles, (1 tanker, 1 Toyota corolla car, 1 Hummer bus and 1 Mitsubushi bus) and 34 motorcycles were burnt. High casualties recorded as people were scooping fuel from the crashed trailer when the tanker exploded," Olagunju posted.
Speaking to Daily Trust from the scene of the accident, Zonal Coordinator of the National Emergency Management Agency for the South South Zone, Umesi Emenike, said the fire has been brought under control and efforts are still in progress to rescue all affected. He also confirmed that no house was affected as the accident happened a distance away from any community.
Comments Post a comment
What kinda people are Nigerians? This BRAINLESS act happens almost every month and scores get killed at every time. You're the world's 6th largest oil producer and well over populated with all these crises. When will you guys take control of your life? Pity
Its very sad seriously my heart bleeds for them and thire families. But sincerly one should always be cautious at all time, think safety all the time, its stupid scooping a fuel from a tanker not even diesel men is highely risky, pls pple should learn from dem pllllllsssssss
y scooping fuel 4rm a tanker dat is carrying fuel: is very risky. atleast dis should serve as a lesson to others who engage themselves in bunkery.
may God grant the bereaved the heart to bear the loss and may the souls of those lost, rest in perfect peace. Amen...
Questions are raised everytime such accident takes place in Nigeria, terming scooping Oil as "foolish". What has 6th largest producer in the world done to it's Citizens? Nigeria is a grossly corrupt Country, where I have seen Filthy-rich and Poorest-of-the-poor. Apart from Politicians, almost 98% of Government/ Statutory authorities are corrupt to the core, fleecing everyone. Leaders of Organizations like NUPENG etc, are other corrupts. So also the Community Leaders, who "permit Raping of the Country" for few Dollars as Dole, in Oil rich South. All these leads to diversion of money to few hands. Anyway the poor will die of hunger. so, what's it if they die scooping oil? If they succeed, they can live for another day... Nigeria is a Rich Ciuntry but Nigerians are Poor. Social injustice, ill-distribution of Wealth leads to Frustration, generating Militancy. I have seen it all very closely and feel saddened for Nigerians...