- According to the police, eight buses, two tankers, five trailers, two cars and one motorcycle were razed.
- The command’s spokesperson, DSP Bright Edafe, who made the disclosure in a press statement, said the incident happened on Sapele-Benin Road on Sunday.
At least five persons have lost their lives in a fuel tanker explosion in Delta State, the police in the oil rich southern State have said.
According to the police, eight buses, two tankers, five trailers, two cars and one motorcycle were razed.
The command’s spokesperson, DSP Bright Edafe, who made the disclosure in a press statement, said the incident happened on Sapele-Benin Road on Sunday.
It’s gathered that the incident was caused by the deplorable state of the road as the mishap occurred while the driver was manoeuvring the failed portions of the highway around the Oghara-Ologbo axis,
The fuel-laden tanker lost control and fell, spilling its content on the road, thus causing the devastating inferno.
The statement read in part, “In the early hours of today, Sunday, October 1, 2023, around 2am, the command recorded a tragic incident where a tanker laden with PMS being driven towards Benin along the Warri-Benin Road fell upon getting to Ugbenu Koko Junction. Its content spilt into the nearby swamp, and the spillage attracted a couple of youths who took advantage of the incident and started scooping the fuel into jerry cans and other containers.
“While they were at it, an explosion erupted and the fire from the explosion engulfed the whole area.
“The fire claimed the lives of five persons among the youth who had come to scoop the spilt fuel, and also combusted several properties which includes the following: the fallen tanker, eight buses of different makes, two tankers, five trailers, two motorcycles, one Siena Space bus and one ‘C’ Class Mercedes Benz car.”