Over 95 die in Rivers tanker explosion

[DT]

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.

Okobe community is about 400 metres from the scene of the accident and most of the victims came from there.

"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.

Emenike also ruled out the state of the road as a possible factor in the accident, saying that the road is in good condition.

 

 

 

Daily Trust