Tanker Explosion Kills Two Along Ebonyi Highway

Two persons died in a fuel-laden tanker explosion on Abakaliki–Onueke-Afikpo Expressway in Ebonyi at the weekend.

Mr Igwe Nnabuife, Sector Commander, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in the state, confirmed the incident to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) yesterday in Abakaliki.

Nnabuife said the truck which was carrying petrol caught fire on Friday around 8: 20p.m., at the airport junction axis of the highway.

“One vehicle was involved. We have not been able to identify the registration number because the vehicle was burnt beyond recognition.

“On fatality, two persons were killed while one was seriously injured. The dead have been taken to Alex-Ekwueme Federal Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki.

“The injured person was taken to Onueke General Hospital, Ezza-South Local Government Area of Ebonyi,” the Sector Commander said.

A firefighter and driver at Ebonyi Fire Service who refused to mention his name, said they were able to put out the fire by God’s intervention.

“The incident claimed people’s lives and caused damage to farmlands in the area.

“We were able to put out the fire, but two persons were burnt beyond recognition, a driver and one other person in the tanker.

“We learnt that the tanker was trying to drive on the flyover bridge at the junction but unfortunately fell and caught fire.

“There were three persons in the tanker, but two were killed while one other person was seriously injured in the incident.

“We were there five minutes after the distress calls were made; we focused on the tanker to avoid fire entering into people’s residence,” he added. (NAN)