Five dead, 70 vehicles burnt in Rivers tanker explosion

Five people have been confirmed dead and over 70 cars burnt in a tanker explosion at the Eleme section of the East-West Road, Rivers State on Friday night.

The incidents, which involved a tanker loaded with petroleum products, happened at about 9:45pm on Friday.

It was learnt that many of the vehicles in a traffic queue were affected as the tanker exploded adjacent the Indorama Petro-Chemical Company located on the Akpojo-Onne axis of the East-West Road.

Confirming the casualty figure, the spokesperson for the State Police Command, Grace Iringe-Koko, on Saturday, said, “for now about five persons are dead.

“The Commissioner of Police and his team were on the ground last night to ensure there is no breakdown of law and order.”

A motorist plying the road identified as Precious who put the figure of vehicles burnt at over 70, said, “I was approaching Akpajo bridge when I saw a thick hold-up. While I and other drivers tried to move further we saw people running and shouting fire, fire.

An eyewitness who gave his name as Baridi said that the incident followed a petrol-laden tanker which collided with a heavy-duty truck, spilling its contents and bursting into flames.

He said the fire spread to a long stretch of vehicles plying the Akpajo-Onne Road following the gridlock which is a usual occurrence on the road now under construction.

The State Commissioner of Police, Olatunji Disu, with operatives from the Eleme Police Division and officials of the Federal Road Safety Corps were on the ground since Friday night.

A government source said Governor Siminalayi Fubara would visit the scene of the explosion to see things for himself on Saturday.