Mohammed Shosanya
No fewer than four persons were killed after a truck conveying gas lost control and tipped over at the Obiri Ikwerre flyover in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, bursting into flames.
The truck following the mishap, exploded with a deafening sound, shattering glass window and causing panic in the area on Tuesday morning.
An eyewitness said that the truck fell on another vehicle with passengers, adding that while the truck driver escaped unhurt, the occupants of the second vehicle were not so lucky as they were feared killed by the inferno.
The eyewitness added that operatives of the federal fire service who arrived at the scene at the nick of time extinguished the fire and stopped it from escalating to nearby vehicles.
It was gathered that personnel of security agencies and emergency responders had condoned off the area with caution tapes, diverting traffic to an alternative route.
It was also observed that operatives of the police on ground were working hard to ward off suspected scavengers who attempted to capitalise on the chaos to steal parts from the wreckage as scraps.
The Public Relations Officer for the Rivers State Police Command, SP Grace Iringe-Koko confirmed the incident, adding two persons lost their lives to the accident.
She disclosed that the Commissioner of Police and other members of the state police hierarchy were on ground to restore order, adding that an investigation had been launched to unravel the circumstances that caused the accident.
Iringe-Koko, stated, “Yes I can confirm that two persons died in the tanker fire. Myself and the Commissioner of Police are on the ground as I speak to you.
“The fire has been put out but the area is still dangerous because the gas is still leaking.
“So motorists are advised to take alternative routes to avoid any further casualty. The investigation is ongoing.”
