No fewer than four people have lost their lives, and more than 70 vehicles were consumed in flames during a fuel tanker explosion in Rivers State, according to the Police Command.
The tragic incident occurred along the Eleme section of the East-West Road around 7:30 p.m. on Friday. Grace Iringe-Koko, the command’s spokesperson, explained that the explosion resulted from a collision between a heavy-duty truck and a petrol-laden tanker.
Eyewitnesses at the scene reported numerous burnt vehicles and charred bodies scattered along the road. The explosion happened close to the Indorama Petrochemical Company and approximately 10 kilometers from the Port Harcourt Refinery.
The accident led to a significant traffic jam spanning over five kilometers on the road, which is currently under reconstruction as part of the N200 billion Ring Road project initiated by the Rivers Government. State government trucks, accompanied by police and Federal Road Safety Commission officials, worked to clear the burnt vehicles and ease traffic congestion.
Witnesses shared harrowing accounts of the explosion, with some narrowly escaping the fireball.
Onyeka Ubani, a witness, recounted the terrifying experience of fleeing from the explosion while transporting passengers in his newly acquired tricycle (Keke), which unfortunately caught fire during the chaos.
“The loud sound was followed by a massive fireball, causing everyone to flee for safety.
“We managed to escape, but unfortunately, my Keke caught fire in the process.
“I thank God for my life, but I am at a loss about what to do with my life now, having recently purchased this Keke.”
Another witness, David Jumbo, described the scene as reminiscent of Hollywood movies, emphasizing the speed at which the fire engulfed vehicles and trapped victims. He recounted seeing a pregnant woman struggling to escape from a commercial vehicle during the chaos, only to find her deceased in the vehicle the following morning.
Jumbo attributed the accident to the recklessness of truck drivers who ignored road warnings despite ongoing construction works.
“It happened so quickly that it could be likened to scenes from Hollywood movies.
“While I was fleeing for safety, I saw a pregnant woman struggling to exit one of the commercial vehicles.
“Unfortunately, when I returned this morning, I found the deceased pregnant woman trapped in the bus as she tried to escape,” he recounted.
Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State, who visited the accident site, expressed condolences to the affected families and urged motorists to prioritize safety on the roads.
He said, “This incident is not a pleasant one, we recorded a huge number of vehicles destroyed and lives lost.
“I have already asked the relevant agencies to brief us on how we can support the bereaved families to mitigate their losses.
“This incident would have been avoided if the motorists had adhered to proper conduct. People should ply this road with caution.”
