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Many people have been reportedly burnt to death in a petrol tanker accident that occurred on Saturday in Enugu State.
Scores were reportedly injured in the inferno which destroyed several vehicles at Ugwu Onyeama Federal Highway.
An eyewitness, a tanker driver, stated that the accident claimed many lives.
He said some of the injured were taken to nearby hospitals.
“Yes, there was a big tragedy this afternoon at Ugwu Onyeama Federal Highway. A tanker carrying premium motor spirit, otherwise known as petrol, fell on the hilly road and spilled the product.
“Unfortunately, it caught fire and all the vehicles plying the road at the time caught fire and burned people beyond recognition.
“As I am speaking with you, over 10 people including children have been burnt beyond recognition. Some have just been loaded in a pick-up van to the morgue now. So many others were loaded in a vehicle and taken to a morgue earlier.
“As we speak, there’s no road through Ugwu Onyeama.
“I am trapped somewhere in Ngwo. The situation is tragic. The second lane of the road is impassable. The fire raged along the road leading to Agu-abor.”
In other news, the Niger State Emergency Management Agencu, NSEMA, has released an update on the tanker explosion that occurred at Dikko Junction, revealing a rising death toll and widespread destruction.
The explosion occurred on Saturday.
According to a statement issued by NSEMA Director General, Abdullahi Baba Arah, as of 12:00 pm on January 20, 2025, the death toll from the explosion has risen to 98.
Additionally, he said 69 people were injured in the disaster, with many still receiving treatment at various hospitals.
The explosion, which occurred when a tanker loaded with Premium Motor Spirit, PMS, lost control and caught fire, also resulted in the destruction of 20 shops in the area.