SEVENTEEN persons reportedly burnt to death on Wednesday where a petrol tanker fell and exploded into flames near Koko Junction on the Benin/Sapele Expressway in Ethiope West council area of Delta State. Four vehicles were burnt in the incident.
The Nation learnt that the tanker spilled its content as it fell at a bad spot and residents rushed to scoop the product.
A truck driver, Kola Akintayo, who witnessed the incident, said another vehicle passing by scraped a metal, igniting a fire. “That was what caused the fire,” he said.
Another trucker said 17 persons died in the incident.
Officials of Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and security agencies evacuated bodies and rushed the injured to a hospital in Oghara community.
The incident has caused a traffic snarl, forcing mobile policemen to take up emergency traffic control duties.
Police spokesperson Onome Onowakpoyeya said three persons died in the incident.
What is happening…God will help us 🙏
That’s serious
May their soul Rest In Peace
What a tragedy.. My condolences!
Chaii. What a great loss.
May their souls rest in peace.
The rate of death this year is very numerous
Jesus Christ… This is too bad
This is so sad…may their soul RIP
Sorry for the loss but that death is terrible at the point of collecting free fuel
Very risky to stay near or inside a loaded tanker
This is really painful.
The rate of death this year is now much.
We don’t want again.
At least let people eat their fruit of labour before meeting their Creator.