Nigeria: Tanker explosion kills at least five in Rivers State
By Charity Nginyu
On the night of Friday, April 26, 2024, a devastating tanker explosion rocked the Eleme section of the East-West Road in Rivers State, killing at least five persons on the spot.
Reports indicate that a petrol-laden tanker collided with a heavy-duty truck, triggering a massive fireball that engulfed the surrounding area.
According to an eyewitness, the collision led to the spillage of the tanker’s highly flammable contents, which quickly ignited, resulting in a catastrophic inferno.
The fire rapidly spread along the stretch engulfing over 70 vehicles trapped in the ensuing gridlock. The unfortunate incident occurred amidst ongoing construction on the road.
Grace Iringe-Koko, spokesperson for the State Police Command, confirmed the casualty figure, stating, “For now, about five persons are dead.” She further noted that the Commissioner of Police, Olatunji Disu, along with law enforcement personnel and officials from the Federal Road Safety Corps, had been deployed to the scene to maintain order and coordinate rescue operations.
