One Pregnant Woman, 9 Others Burnt To Death As Bus Catches Fire

Tragedy struck in Effurun, Delta State, yesterday, as a Delta City 14-passenger town service commercial bus caught fire, taking 10 passengers’ life including one pregnant woman.
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Four people, including the driver, survived the incident.
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The bus was heading towards Enerhen Junction.
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It was gathered that the bus with number plate 14 C-74 DT burst into flames at about 3.04pm along the ever busy PTI road near Emasodje junction.
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The accident caused serious vehicular traffic as officials of the FRSC, military men and Policemen retrieved the burnt corpses.
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According to a survivor, who does not want his name mentioned, tragedy struck immediately after a woman with a four-litre jerry can of petrol entered the front seat of the bus against the agitation of the passengers.
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In his word: “I boarded the bus at PTI junction and we were heading to Enerhen Junction. The driver picked a woman who was carrying four litres of what was suspected to be petrol. We protested as the woman boarded.
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“Within three minutes, what we heard was an explosion. I managed to escape through the trunk of the bus. I am short of words. My escape was a miracle.”
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Mr. Ben Igbakpa, Commissioner for Transport, who visited the scene of the accident, was speechless.
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He told Vanguard, when he finally found his voice, “I was told by a survivor that the fire was caused by a woman who boarded the bus with fuel in a four-litre jerry can.
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“He told me that some complained, but she was allowed to seat in the front. I learnt that 10 persons were burnt beyond recognition, with the driver and three others surviving.
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“We will intensify our monitoring. We call on the operators to talk to the drivers to be very cautious. It is bad that someone will board a bus with fuel, it is regrettable.
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“We mourn this unfortunate incidence, most difficult is that no one can ascertain who died now because it is a town service, it does not carry a manifest. The state government is sad that such a tragic thing has happened.”
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On his part, Mr. Dickson Amromawhe, state Co-Ordinator, Federal Road Safety Commission, FRSC, Delta command said: “There were four survivors. I got a call that a Delta City bus was on fire along PTI road, so we mobilised and came here.
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“I, however, find it offensive that youths restricted the fire service truck that came for rescue operation. I was informed that on arrival, irate youths started chasing them away that they were late.
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This is not the first time that they are doing this.
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“Most painful is that even the policemen who came first were injured, one of he officers’ head was broken by a stone thrown by the youths. Why are they doing this?
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“Someone is coming for rescue and you are chasing him away. The state government should do something about this, it is not helping the victims at all.”
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At press time, the charred remains of the victims were packed in sacks ready to be taken to Central Hospital Ekpan morgue.