Not less than 100 vehicles were destroyed on Friday night from multiple explosions involving fuel tankers at the Eleme section of the East-West Road in Rivers State.
Similarly, it was difficult to ascertain the exact number of casualties affected by the incident.
Eyewitness account has it that a tanker loaded with petroleum products ignited and erupted into flames, engulfing other tankers and numerous vehicles caught in a traffic jam.
It said that many individuals trapped in their vehicles fell victim to the inferno.
The source attributed the incident to alleged reckless driving and the construction company responsible for the Eleme section of the road.
”The fire burned for several hours before being extinguished by multiple fire service trucks, aided by support from Indoroma Petrochemical,” the source said.
The source reported hearing loud explosions and cries for help, indicating the severity of the situation.
“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,” a resident said.
Also, Segun Owolabi, another resident described the aftermath of the tragedy, stating, “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.”
The incident has been a devastating blow to the community, with widespread destruction and loss of life.
============
Multiple explosions from fuel tankers at the Eleme section of the East-West Road in Rivers State have resulted in the burning of not less than 100 vehicles and an unknown number of casualties.
The incident, which occurred late Friday night, has left many travelers stranded.
