Another gruesome tragedy of a fuel tanker explosion occurred on Saturday in Enugu, a South Eastern state in Nigeria, just days after similar incidents in Minna and Ibadan.
The accident happened at Ugwu Onyeama Federal Highway, resulting in multiple fatalities and injuries.
According to eyewitnesses, the tanker carrying premium motor spirit suffered brakes failure, tumbled, and had its content spilled, then caught fire, engulfing other vehicles.
“Unfortunately, it caught fire and all the vehicles plying the road at the time caught fire and burned people beyond recognition,” said a tanker driver who witnessed the tragedy.
Multiple Fatalities and Injuries
Eighteen persons including children were reported killed in the incident. Some of the injured were taken to nearby hospitals, while others were loaded into vehicles and taken to the morgue.
“As we speak, there’s no road through Ugwu Onyeama. I am trapped somewhere in Ngwo. The situation is tragic,” the eyewitness said.
Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah expressed sadness over the accident during an on-the-spot assessment. He said those injured were receiving medical attention and that the state would take steps to forestall future occurrences, including enforcement of road rules and fixing the part of the federal road that was in disrepair.
Describing the accident as unfortunate, Mbah commiserated with the families of the dead and injured victims.
He further asked the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Sector Commander in the state, Franklin Agbakoba, and the State Commissioner for Transport, Obi Ozor, to ensure that all tankers conveying inflammable substances in the state have anti-spill locks that will prevent spills in case of accident.
“Investigation is still at the preliminary stage. The police and other law enforcement agencies are on it. We want to get to the root of this for us to understand the true cause of the accident,” he said.
The FRSC has urged motorists to exercise caution and avoid the area until the road is cleared.
The FRSC also advised drivers to ensure their vehicles are in good condition and to avoid speeding, especially on hilly roads. The corps also warned against carrying flammable materials and overloading vehicles.
After 98 were burnt alive in Minna, President Bola Tinubu ordered an enquiry into the multiple cases of fuel tanker explosions. While this has been a sad, recurring incident in Nigeria for many years, fuel tanker fires has killed over 300 persons in the last five months alone.
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