Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — Scores feared dead, following a petrol tanker fire explosion which razed over 100 vehicles and properties worth billions of Naira, along Aleto-Eleme axis of the East-West Road in Rivers State.
SweetCrudeReports gathered that the fire explosion occurred after a petrol tanker laden with 33,000 litres of Premium Motor Spirit, commonly known as fuel, collided into another heavy-duty vehicle and burst into flames, amid a heavy traffic logjam.
The inferno which occurred last night, spread rapidly, engulfing all the vehicles that were stuck in the gridlock on the road, trapping occupants inside their vehicles such as salon cars, commercial buses, heavy duty trucks such as articulated vehicles conveying containers from Onne port, etc.
Eyewitnesses say some victims were caught in the raging inferno as people were running helter skelter for safety.
An eyewitness, identified as Sunday, blamed the tragedy on the ongoing reconstruction work on the road handled by Reynolds Construction Company Ltd, RCC, which, according to him, had worsened the traffic situation on the road.
He said, “I was approaching Aleto bridge when I saw a thick hold-up. While I and other drivers tried to move further, we saw people running and shouting fire, fire.
“So, it was difficult for me even to reverse my vehicle. We meandered and packed somewhere. Only for us to come back and see that more than 100 vehicles were burnt. There are people burnt in their vehicles and some people running were also caught in the inferno.”
Confirming the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer in Rivers State, Grace Iringe-Koko, said only five corpses have been recovered from the scene.
“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.”
