A tanker loaded with fuel exploded in Calabar, Cross River state on Wednesday, September 17, 2014 killing two people.
The explosion occurred close to the Eburutu Army Barracks end of the Murtala Mohammed Highway at about 1:30pm causing a great inferno in the heart of the ancient city of Calabar.
Pedestrians, commuters and transporters were left stranded for hours as the intensity of the inferno, which also spread to nearby buildings, slowed down movements in and out of the state capital.
The two victims were the driver of the fuel tanker and his conductor. The driver was burnt to ashes on his seat, while the conductor was flung out of the vehicle.
Fire fighters arrived the scene 40 minutes after the explosion occurred and had spread to burn two buildings and two vehicles – Audi 80 and Peugeot 505.
No fewer than 12 fire service trucks were sent to put out the inferno.
The Cross River State Government, Calabar Free Trade Zone and Nigeria Ports Authority joined the Fire Service to put out the inferno which lasted for over two hours.
Pastor Godwin Nsa, an eyewitness who spoke with the press said the tanker driver tried to overtake another tanker that was loaded with diesel at a tight end of the road when the accident happened.
“A tanker loaded with petrol tried to overtake another with diesel, unfortunately the former hit the latter from behind and both skidded off the road and their tankers fell. Immediately, the petrol tanker exploded. The driver and his conductor died on the spot,” he said.
Another man at the scene, Mr. Evans Bishop, said the two trailers were trying to avoid some parked trucks owned by a transport company that obstructed the free flow of traffic. in the process, both trailers loaded with petroleum product collided, which resulted in the explosion.
He said, “I came out the moment it happened. A transport company has a terminal close to the scene of the incident and the firm’s trucks were parked by the side of the road. This caused the accident.
“Government ought to have done something about the parking arrangement of these vehicles. It is not right to park on the highway. Other road users should be free to use the road.”
The corpse of the deceased has been deposited in the mortuary.
