Three persons have been confirmed dead, while four others sustained varying degrees of injuries following a tanker explosion that occurred along the Presidential Boulevard, Kuto axis of Abeokuta metropolis, the Ogun state capital.
The incident, which occurred around 8.15 am on Tuesday, January 19, 2021, when the 33,000-litre tanker had brake failure while descending the Kuto overhead bridge.
Six vehicles and six motorcycles were also burnt in the fuel tanker fire incident. The development led to confusion as the incident happened near a private school and a bank facility with parents rushing to get their children from the school.
Men of the Federal and Ogun State Fire Services were at the scene of the incident to bring the raging fire under control, while motorists were advised to ply the alternative route.
Femi Ogunbanwo, the Ogun commissioner for special duties, who was at the scene of the incident said that the injured persons have been taken to the State Hospital in Ijaye and that the state government will cover the medical bills.
Ige Olufolarin, the director of the State Emergency Management Agency, SEMA, while speaking with journalists at the scene of the fire disaster confirmed the number of casualties, stressing that the accident was as a result of brake failure on the part of the tanker truck.
Fatai Adefola, the state director of Fire Service, who also spoke with journalists after the fire had been put out (extinguished), also confirmed that a total number of six light trucks (cars), as well as six motorcycles, were burnt alongside the petroleum tanker in the inferno.
Source: Vanguard
