Toba Owojaiye reporting
Benin City, Edo state
In a devastating incident on Friday night, a petrol-laden tanker collided with a heavy-duty truck, sparking a massive explosion at the Eleme section on the East-West Road in Rivers State. Eyewitnesses recounted scenes of horror as the inferno engulfed over 70 vehicles and claimed the lives of at least five individuals.
Truth Live News gathered that the collision caused the tanker to spill its contents, igniting a fire that quickly spread along the Akpajo-Onne Road. The area, already plagued by construction-induced gridlock, trapped numerous vehicles and their occupants.
“People inside their vehicles who tried to escape the fire were trapped and died,” eyewitnesses stated, highlighting the chaotic and tragic nature of the event.
A motorist, who was caught in the traffic, described the harrowing experience of witnessing the unfolding disaster. He lamented the lack of alternative routes and criticized the road reconstruction efforts for exacerbating the congestion.
Blaming the tragedy on the slow progress of road construction, Precious emphasized the need for authorities to expedite the work and ensure proper traffic management to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Confirming the casualty figure, State Police Command spokesperson Grace Iringe-Koko stated that five individuals had been confirmed dead. Law enforcement, including the Commissioner of Police and his team, worked to maintain order at the scene.
Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State announced plans to visit the site of the explosion to assess the situation firsthand. Emergency responders, including firemen from the Indorama Petrochemical Company and other private firms, battled the blaze for nearly two hours before bringing it under control.