UPDATED: Five confirmed dead, 70 cars burnt in Rivers tanker
Five people have been confirmed dead and over 70 cars burnt in the tanker explosion at the Eleme section of the East-West Road in Rivers State on Friday night.
PUNCH Online earlier reported that no fewer than four persons were feared killed following a multiple explosion at the Eleme section of the East-West Road in Rivers State on Friday night.
An eyewitness who gave his name as Baridi told our correspondent that the incident followed a petrol-laden tanker which collided with a heavy-duty truck, spilling its contents and bursting into flames.
He said the fire spread to a long stretch of vehicles plying the Akpajo-Onne Road following the gridlock which is a usual occurrence on the road now under construction.
Confirming the casualty figure, the spokesperson for the State Police Command, Grace Iringe-Koko, in an interview with our correspondent on Saturday, said, “For now about five persons are dead. The Commissioner of Police and his team were on the ground last night to ensure there is no breakdown of law and order.”
Meanwhile, a source from the Government House, Port Harcourt told our correspondent that the state governor, Siminalayi Fubara, would be visiting the scene of the explosion to see things for himself on Saturday.
Already, the State Commissioner of Police, Olatunji Disu, with men from the Eleme Police Division and officials of the Federal Road Safety Corps had been on the ground since Friday night.
Our correspondent gathered that a team of firemen from the Indorama Petrochemical Company assisted by firemen from other private firms battled for about two hours before the fire was put out.
Confirming the casualty figure, the spokesperson for the State Police Command, Grace Iringe-Koko, in an interview with our correspondent on Saturday, said, “For now about five persons are dead. The Commissioner of Police and his team were on the ground last night to ensure there is no breakdown of law and order.”
Meanwhile, a source from the Government House, Port Harcourt told our correspondent that the state governor, Siminalayi Fubara, would be visiting the scene of the explosion to see things for himself on Saturday.
Already, the State Commissioner of Police, Olatunji Disu, with men from the Eleme Police Division and officials of the Federal Road Safety Corps had been on the ground since Friday night.
Our correspondent gathered that a team of firemen from the Indorama Petrochemical Company assisted by firemen from other private firms battled for about two hours before the fire was put out.
Similarly, in March 2023, no fewer than 12 persons were confirmed dead following an early morning explosion at a crude oil tapping point in Rumuekpe community, Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State.
The incident occurred at about 2 am on Friday when one of the buses loaded with crude went up in flames while trying to navigate to an illegal refining point in the area.
An environmentalist and Executive Director, Youths and Environmental Advocacy Centre, Fyneface Dumnamene, confirmed the incident to our correspondent.
Details later….
- The Punch
