Several persons were, on Thursday, burnt alive while no fewer than 10 others sustained varying degrees of injuries, when a fuel tanker fell and exploded along Oluku on the Benin-Lagos road in Edo State.
The incident reportedly occurred at about 4 a.m. when the ill-fated petrol tanker attempting to make a U-turn near Oluku Market fell and spilled its contents on the road.
According to eye witnesses, shortly after the tanker fell, residents and other passers-by rushed to the scene and began scooping fuel from the road and drainage channels.
One of the witnesses said people who arrived early at the scene joined in scooping, before security operatives arrived and cordoned off the area.
The truck’s owner was said to have later brought another tanker to evacuate the remaining content from the fallen vehicle before it exploded, leaving several people burnt beyond recognition.
About 10 of the injured victims were rushed to the University of Benin Teaching Hospital for medical attention, while corpses were deposited at the hospital’s mortuary.
The eye witness said, “I was also among those who were scooping the fuel. I escaped by whiskers. It was a soldier who called me and drew my attention to the fact that it was sunny and the way the people rushed to scoop the fuel might ignite fire.
“As I looked back after he spoke to me, the tanker burst into flames as people around the area scampered for safety. I thank the soldier, if not I would have been burnt by now.
“Two men who were directly under the tanker were burnt, while stores that were built on the drainage were burnt; we are yet to know the number of people that died.”
At the UBTH, the management was observed to have swiftly mobilised emergency services to treat the victims brought to the hospital.
UBTH Chief Medical Director, Prof. Idia Ize-Iyamu, was seen leading the emergency response team across the accident, emergency, and burns units.
Edo State Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps, Preye Ezekiel Bedford, said FRSC officials, Police, Fire Service and Edo State Traffic Management Agency were on ground to control traffic.
Regarding the number of casualties, Bedford said he was still at the scene and further details would be made available later.
