Two persons have been confirmed dead while one other person was injured in a fuel-laden tanker explosion on the Abakaliki–Onueke-Afikpo expressway in Ebonyi State.

The Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Ebonyi State, Igwe Nnabuife, confirmed the incident on Saturday, December 30, 2023.

Nnabuife said the truck, which was carrying Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), popularly called petrol, caught fire at the airport junction axis of the highway at about 8 p.m. on Friday, December 29.

He said: “One vehicle was involved. We have not been able to identify the registration number because the vehicle was burnt beyond recognition.

“On fatality, two persons were killed while one was seriously injured. The dead ones have been taken to Alex-Ekwueme Federal Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki.

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“The injured person was taken to Onueke General Hospital, Ezza-South Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.”

The FRSC Sector Commander described the incident as unfortunate, saying the command had begun arrangements to take the burnt tanker off the road.

Also speaking on the tanker explosion, a firefighter and driver at Ebonyi State Fire Service, who refused to mention his name, said they were able to put out the fire by God’s intervention.

He said: “The incident claimed people’s lives and caused damage to farmlands in the area.

“We were able to put out the fire, but two persons were burnt beyond recognition, a driver and one other person in the tanker.

“We learnt that the tanker was trying to drive on the flyover bridge at the junction but unfortunately fell and caught fire.

“There were three persons in the tanker, but two were killed while one other person was seriously injured in the incident.

“We were there five minutes after the distress calls were made; we focused on the tanker to avoid fire entering into people’s residence.”

The Star