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Tag: tanker explosion

  • UPDATED: Tanker Explosion: Death Toll rises to 59, as 18 sustain serious injuries

    UPDATED: Tanker Explosion: Death Toll rises to 59, as 18 sustain serious injuries

    The death toll from the tanker explosion on Sunday morning in Agaie Local Government Area, Niger State, has risen to 59, with 18 individuals sustaining serious injuries.

    Kumar Tsukwan, the Niger State Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps, told The Nation that all the victims were men, and the vehicles involved were barely identifiable due to the extent of the fire.

    He noted that only one vehicle’s license plate could be recognized, while the plate numbers of the others remain undetermined.

    Tsukwan explained that the road safety did not release any statement early because they were busy giving emergency medical treatment and evacuating the injured victims to the General Hospital Lapai for medical attention.

    Read Also: First Lady Tinubu mourns Niger tanker explosion victims

    He said that the injured obtained various degrees of injuries and several of them have been referred to the IBBU Specialist Hospital in Minna.

    The Niger state FRSC Commander said the incident occurred at 4.30 am and it was reported to the FRSC Lapai Unit at 4.40 am.

    “The fuel-laden tanker from Lagos on transit to Kano was on top speed, lost control, fell and engulfed with fire while another trailer that conveyed cows and humans was consequently affected and two other vehicles behind. All the four vehicles got burnt to ashes.

    “It was gathered that the trailer that conveyed humans and cows was alerted by one of his passengers of the fire at their front but the driver responded that it was just mere tyre burning and on reaching the engulfed tanker, the trailer was immediately engulfed and consequently the two other vehicles were engulfed.”

    In an update, the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA) said that the death toll increased to 59 because some dead bodies were discovered in the process of continued evacuation while one of the victims who got first-degree burns died at FMC Bida.

  • Tanker explosion claims 30 lives, kills 50 cows in Niger

    Tanker explosion claims 30 lives, kills 50 cows in Niger

    A tanker explosion in the Agaie Local Government Area of Niger State has resulted in the deaths of over 30 people and the burning of 50 cattle.

    The explosion took place around 12:30 a.m. on Sunday along the Lapai-Agaie road, approximately 2 kilometers from the Dendo community in Agaie.

    It was learnt that the incident occurred when a petrol tanker loaded with PMS collided with a trailer truck loaded with travellers and cattle from Wudil in Kano state heading to Lagos.

    Read Also: Tinubu vows to improve police welfare, equipment

    Two other vehicles, a crane truck and a pickup van traveling on the road were also caught when the PMS loaded tanker exploded.

    The Director General of the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA), Alhaji Abdullahi Baba Arah, confirmed the incident, adding that the NSEMA Rapid Response Team responded to the call after the explosion, adding that 30 bodies had been recovered from the truck and confirmed dead.

    Arah said that his team were still at the scene of the incident and was still conducting search and response operations as there were more bodies trapped inside the trucks.

  • JUST IN: Tanker explosion kills two in Rivers

    JUST IN: Tanker explosion kills two in Rivers

    Two persons have been killed when a tanker laden with Liquefied Natural Gas exploded into flames at the Obiri-Ikwerre flyover along the East-West at the outskirts of Port Harcourt, Rivers state. 

    It was gathered that the tanker burst into inferno at about 9:25am when it fell  while trying to negotiate the bypass at the flyover.

    The ill-fated truck was said to have crushed a salon car with two occupants inside. 

    A source, who spoke in confidence, said the two occupants of the car were trapped and could not escape while the fire consumed them.

    The source said: “My office is just close by here. It was a terrible sight. Two persons inside a salon car parked nearby were bunt beyond recognition. 

    “The tanker was trying to negotiate thought the flyover when it fell and the explosion occurred. 

    Read Also: One dead, five vehicles damaged in gas tanker explosion in Ogun

    Another eyewitness, who gave his name as Lucky said the sound of the explosion spread to residential areas near the flyover and caused panic. 

    He said: ” It was about past 9am that I was driving towards the University of Port Harcourt that I saw the flames. 

    ” I quickly made a u-turn because I was driving. Many vehicles started making a detour to avoid the scene of the fire, some where even videoing the fire with their phones”.

    When contacted, spokesperson of the State Police Command, Grace Iringe-Koko, confirmed the incident and the casualty figure. 

    Iringe-Koko said: “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 till dangerous because the gas is still licking. So motorists are advised to take alternative routes to avoid any further casualty. Investigation is o going.”

  • FRSC confirms two dead in Bauchi tanker explosion

    The Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, in Bauchi State on Tuesday confirmed the death of two persons in a road crash involving an articulated fuel tanker and a Toyota Hilux truck along Bauchi-Jos expressway.

    The incident occurred two days after a ghastly motor accident claimed 13 lives and injured 6 on Sunday along Bauchi-Gombe road.

    The spokesperson of the  Federal Road Safety Corps, Bauchi Sector Command,  Rilwan Sulaiman, who confirmed the incident told the Nation that the tanker which was conveying diesel had a brake failure, as a result, the driver lost control and rammed into the truck before exploding.

    He said two persons were burnt beyond recognition in the process while three others sustained serious injuries.

    He added that the injured persons were rushed to the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital for treatment.

    Read also: Four injured, motorcycles burnt in Ekiti tanker accident

    Rilwanu said “the accident occurred at Tashan Durum between a Fuel Tanker with registration number; BSA-664-XA and a government Toyota Hilux with number plate; FG-632-A15. Very unfortunate, the diesel tanker lost control and rammed into the bus and exploded. Two people were burnt beyond recognition. Another three persons were rushed to the hospital”.

    He said sequel to the series of accident along the Bauchi-Jos expressway, the command has embarked on aggressive public enlightenment on how to reduce avoidable road crash among motorists.

    Rilwan, therefore, warned motorist to heed to the Corps’ advice on road safety.

    “Our people need more education on the rules and regulations of roads. If you look at the cause of today’s incident was mechanical failure. Has proper precaution been taken it wouldn’t have resulted to that”, he said.

  • Tanker explosion rocks Anambra, buildings, shops razed

    No fewer than 10 vehicles, seven buildings and shops have been destroyed when a tanker conveying petrol to an unknown destination fell at Amawbia round about, near Governor’s lodge in Anambra state.

    The incident happened about 9.20pm on Saturday close to the Fire Service office.

    Though no casualty had been reported, men of the police and fire fighters have been battling to salvage situation.

    The State Police Public Relations Officer, Haruna Mohammed, while confirming the incident, described it as sad and unfortunate.

    Details shortly…

  • UPDATED: Two burnt to death, scores injured in Lagos tanker explosion

    Two persons were on Wednesday burnt beyond recognition after a petrol tanker exploded at Barracks Bus Stop, along Mile 2 on Badagry Expressway, Ojo in Lagos State.

    The Nation gathered the 33,000 litre fuel- laden tanker exploded after it fell due to a bad portion of the road in the area.

    It was learnt when the tanker fell, a container and three other vehicles ran into the spilled contents on the road and ignited fire.

    While some of the motorists escaped, two people were burnt beyond recognition and five vehicles including the tanker and a container was also burnt.

    Passersby ran helter shelter with many injured in the process while scampering for safety.

    The incident was said to have occurred around 8am leading to zero vehicular movement on both sides of the expressway for over an hour.

    Read Also: One die, others injure in Edo tanker explosion

    The Nation learnt around 10am, the fire was under control and vehicular movement had been restored to the area following intervention of the officials of the Lagos State Fire Service, the Response Team of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) and other security officials.

    A passerby who was at the scene while the fire was burning, Hon Ralph Nwafor, said the tanker loaded with petroleum product fall in front of Ojo military cantonment, adding that the entire road for vehicular movement to and fro mile 2 was blocked during the inferno.

    He said that the intervention of the uniformed men, Lagos State Fire Service and the Response Unit of LASEMA, helped to combat the fire and to clear the traffic.

    According to him: “I saw two human bodies burnt beyond recognition; asides the fuel tanker, a container and other vehicles were also burnt.

    “Many people were injured as a result of the fear caused by the fire. People ran up and down in search for safety. Those that were on Okada, were particularly injured.”

    Acting Director Lagos Fire Service Rasaki Musibau, who visited the accident scene, warned motorists to avoid leaving their vehicles on the road unattended to especially in the night in order to avert Fire and safe lives.

     

     

  • One die, others injure in Edo tanker explosion

    One person has been confirmed dead while two others were injured in a fire incident caused by explosion from a tanker carrying diesel.

    The dead victim was the yet- to- be identified driver of the tanker.

    He was said to be trapped and engulfed inside the tanker before help could reach him.

    The fire was said to have occurred along the Benin-Lagos road at about 5am when the tanker fell and spilled its contents while attempting to avoid a collision with a Mercedes Benz wagon car loaded with bags of rice driving against traffic.

    Prompt arrival of Fire Service men from different stations help to prevent the fire from spreading to nearby buildings.

    Read Also: Abule-Egba pipeline explosion, hell of our own making

    The accident caused heavy traffic congestion and increased transport fare as commuters were made to pay N150 instead of N100 from New Benin area to Ugbowo.

    Edo Deputy Governor Philip Shaibu, who was at the scene of the accident, said drivers should always obey traffic rules.

    “From what I have been told here, somebody was driving against traffic and that is what has resulted to this accident.

    “We should maintain our lanes and the immediate thing we have to do here now, is to first evacuate and check the essence of damage and the government will take it from there.

    “But I think we need a lot of public enlightenment programmes to educate our commuters on how to obey traffic rules and also stop moving against traffic because that is what I was told caused this accident”, he said.

    Chairman of Egor Local Government Area, Ms. Eghe Ogbemudia said she arrived the scene at about 5:30am

    “The fire service from the different locations have really helped us.

    “I just want to use this opportunity to advise our road users mostly our drivers to stop driving on one-way because that is what caused this accident.

    “Somebody was driving in the opposite direction when this truck was coming and the truck man lost control, that is what the eye witnesses said,” she said.

    Assistant Corp Commandant of the Federal Road Safety Corp, (FRSC) Sabina Musa, said the tanker wanted to avoid a head-on collusion but lost control as he tried to swerve.

    “And if you see the direction of the vehicle, you will know that a lot of things are wrong with both drivers and this accident could be avoided but it has happened, the driver of the vehicle was trapped.

    “The number of persons involved in the accident are three, all male adults. Two were taken to the hospital but one is dead. The one that is trapped inside the tanker vehicle,” she said.

  • Breaking: Tanker explosion kills many in Edo

    About 13 vehicles were on Friday morning burnt while many persons razed to death in a fire resulting from a tanker explosion in front of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH).

    The fuel laden tanker was said to have exploded after a collision with a truck and a commercial bus.

    Men of the Edo State Fire Service were said to have arrived the scene to out the fire.

    Sources said the fire started at about 5:30am and was still burning as at press time.

    More details later…..

  • Many feared dead in tanker explosion

    Many people were feared killed in a petrol tanker explosion along the Calabar-Odukpani Highway in Odukpani local government area of Cross River State on Friday.

    The incident occurred at a bend close to the Odukpani local government secretariat.

    It was gathered the petrol tanker fell while trying to negotiate the bend with residents rushing to the scene to scoop petrol.

    Eyewitnesses reported the clamour for petrol resulted into a spark as some of the residents used metal containers to scoop the product.

    Read Also: Tanker explosion: Ondo orders agency to assess damage

    This led to an explosion which killed several people at once.

    At the scene, the police tried to contain the situation as the fire raged.

    Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Irene Ugbo, could not confirm the number of fatalities as at press time.

     

    Details shortly…

  • Tanker explosion: Ondo orders agency to assess damage

    The Ondo State government yesterday mandated the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) to assess the level of damage caused by the tanker explosion that occurred on Wednesday night in Akure, the state capital.

    Some youths demonstrated against the explosion, which occurred at Onyerugbulem Junction on Ilesha/Owo road in Akure, the state capital.

    The incident was reportedly caused by a tanker conveying 33,000 litres of diesel.

    Four persons were said to have died while some vehicles and buildings near the expressway were destroyed.

    Deputy Governor Agboola Ajayi who addressed the protesting youths, advised them to be calm and law-abiding.

    He was accompanied by the senator representing Ondo Central, Chief Tayo Alasoadura, the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Chief Olugbenga Ale and the Commissioner for Works, Mr Taofiq Abdulsalam.

    Agboola sympathised with the affected residents and assured them of government immediate help.

    The deputy governor promised the protesters, who were calling for the construction of a fly-over in the area, that before the government embarks on that, it would erect speed breakers on the road to control vehicles plying the road.

    He also assured the people that traffic controllers will henceforth be on the ground – from 6 a.m to 8 p.m – to control vehicles entering and leaving the area.

    Ajayi assured that SEMA would distribute materials to victims of the fire.

    A victim and soft drinks dealer at Shagari village junction Mrs Sola Adeala said she lost thousands of naira to the fire.

    She said: “I just took stock of assorted soft drinks running into several millions of naira I brought last weekend. They all perished in the fire.”

    The businesswoman urged the state government to assist her so she and her family can survive life.

    Another victim, Alex Umeh, said even though he lost his car, thanked God for surviving the fire.

    Umeh said he was returning from a church programme when he parked at Onyearugbulem Junction to see a friend nearby.

    According to him, he heard a bang accompanied by a fire, which consumed his car.