Some members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) narrowly escaped death as the coaster bus they boarded to Asaba for the passing out parade (POP) exploded at a filling station in Warri, Delta State.
According to online medium, Grassroot Reporters, the incident occurred on Thursday at a filling station close to the Nigerian Navy Headquarters in Warri.
The bus which belonged to the College of Education Warri, was reportedly hired to convey corps members to Asaba for their final POP after the completion of their service year.
The aforementioned publication reported that one of the corps members, simply identified as Daniel, said that the bus ran out of fuel shortly after the journey began and had stopped for a refuel before the unfortunate incident.
“The driver stopped at a filling station close to Nigeria Navy Barracks in Warri to refuel the bus. While we were inside, and the filling station attendant was dispensing fuel into the bus, we heard a deafening sound, and everywhere was covered with smoke.”
Many of the corps members reportedly sustained serious injuries, while a female corps member had a serious dislocation and was rushed to an undisclosed hospital.
It was gathered that the corps members lost their phones, bags and other personal effects.
The cause of the fire is unknown but a source said the driver of the bus allegedly failed to switch off the bus while it was being refuelled.