October 1 tragedy: Over 30 feared dead, cars burnt as tanker laden with fuel explodes in Delta
By Tony Oboh
Over thirty persons have been reported dead with more than twenty cars burnt down after a tanker laden with about thirty thousand litres of fuel exploded between Ologbo and Koko-Ugbenu roads in Edo and Delta States respectively.
The incident occurred at about 1am on Sunday, October 1,
Rams and goats loaded in a trailer which was caught in the fire escaped into the bushes for their lives. Youths from nearby communities caught a few of them and made away with them for the Independence celebration.
Details as to what caused the incident were still sketchy at the time of this report.
A cleric, Pastor Glory Michael Asiughwure who was returning from a journey with a heavy hold up on the road confirmed the incident to our Correspondent in Warri.
He said when the tanker fell, people went to scoop fuel gushing out from it.
He said contrary to reports that he had seen from some mushroom media platforms, the number of those who died was more than twenty.
Pastor Glory added that over twenty cars were equally burnt down as a result of the explosion.
He said the incident caused serious tension within the area as passengers and drivers ran for the safety of their lives.
Pastor Glory said he left the scene at about 9am on Sunday morning when officers and men of the Nigerian Army, Police and Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC arrived at the scene to forestall any breakdown of law and order.
When contacted for comments, the Delta State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Bright Edafe in a telephone chat with our Correspondent said, “Not confirmed yet.”
At the time of filing this report, the fire is still raging at the scene
