Petrol Tanker Explosions Claim Lives And Property In Nigeria

by Benson Agoha | Petrol Accidents

It was a weekend of fuel tanker explosions in Nigeria, with notable incidence occurring in Lagos and Delta States.

* Ojuelegba, Lagos where an explosion damaged the
bridge and left several buses burnt.



At popular Ojuelegba, Lagos a tanker carrying PMS (premium motor spirit) exploded, destroying cars and buses - leaving serious damage to the bridge.

Ojuelegba, a popular artery leading to the National Stadium, links the city's mass transit busses from Lagos Island and Surulere to many important parts of the State including the Murtala Mohamed International Airport and the Toll Gate and capital city, Ikeja.

As can been seen from these photos, many buses were burnt out and several others reportedly damaged in the immediately aftermath of the explosion during which scrambled ensued. It happened in the early hours of Saturday, December 5, 2015.

There were rumoured casualties too, and while details of the casualty has not been ascertained, it was gathered that several commercial vehicles, popularly referred to as Danfo were set ablaze by the raging inferno.

* Onitsha, Anambra State where a tanker explosion
killed 69 and injured 30.

In another unrelated incident, over 69 persons reportedly burnt to death on Sunday evening when a trailer loaded with petrol rammed into the Asaba Motor Park at Upper Iwekas, Onitsha and exploded.

Eleven vehicles mostly commuter buses and two motorcycles inside the Asaba Park Onitsha including the 40 foot tanker laden with petrol burnt beyond repairs inside the park.

Governor Willie Obiano and a State Commissioner were overflowing with emotions as they broke into tears upon seeing the disaster the explosion caused, Pulse reported.

The Nigerian Red Cross Society officials were the first to arrive at the scene of the incident, and according to its

Prof Peter Emeka Kathy, Chairman of the Nigerian Red Cross Society who arrived the scene early to the media that: “we have sixty nine burnt to death persons as at now."

He said there were 30 other injured persons who are receiving treatment in hospitals across the state.