Several people have died in a tragic explosion of a petrol tanker in the East-West Road in Eleme, Rivers State, News About Nigeria reports.
The unfortunate incident was reported to have occured in the late hours of Friday, 26th April 2024, when a tanker carrying petroleum products exploded near the Indorama Petrochemical Company, leading to an inferno.
At least four persons have been confirmed dead as they were burnt beyond recognition, and several vehicles destroyed.
The explosion was said to have occured in a section of the road notorious for its heavy traffic, specifically along the Akpojo-Onne axis, intensifying the impact on nearby vehicles and infrastructure.
A source identified simply as Vikko, who is also a local resident from Akpajo in the Eleme Local Government Area, stated that the explosion was so intense that it produced a deafening sound that could be heard from a considerable distance, adding that the sound had come from the Petro-Chemical company area.
“I heard a very loud sound about 20 minutes ago, and people were shouting.
“The sound came from the Petro-Chemical company area. So when I came out, I saw a thick smoke with fire from a distance,” he said.
Speaking on the incident also, a Port Harcourt-based broadcast journalist, Segun Owolabi, who gave a live update from the scene, noted that over 20 vehicles destroyed and several persons trapped in the explosion.
“I saw four dead bodies burnt. Some may have been in the bushes because many ran away. I saw a whole stretch of vehicles burnt down, trailer burnt down.”
“There seems to be a truck carrying substances, and it was as if it had a collision with another vehicle that may have ignited the fire. Over 20 vehicles burnt down and several people trapped.
“There may be more bodies. Oh my God this is a tragedy. A stretch of vehicles burnt,” he lamented.
He, however, stated that as at the time of the update, three fire-fighting trucks from the Indorama Petrochemical company had arrived at the scene and were trying to put out the fire, which was still raging.
Following the incident, it was gathered that hundreds of travellers and passengers were stranded as the road leading to Akwa Ibom, Cross River, and others was blocked.
