No fewer than three persons have been confirmed dead in a petrol-laden tanker explosion at the Obiri Ikwerre flyover section of the East-West Road in Rivers State.

It was gathered that the explosion occurred after the tanker veered off the road, colliding with a taxi and bursting into flames at about 9 a.m. on Tuesday, June 4, 2024.

The incident occurred a few kilometres from the Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital and the University of Port Harcourt in the Rivers State capital.

An eyewitness, Ebiere Faith, said the explosion’s impact was felt kilometres away from her office.

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“Some individuals said that their glass windows were shattered due to the impact of the explosion,” Faith said.

Confirming the incident, the Rivers State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Grace Iringe-Koko, said the car’s occupants were burnt, adding that they could not be identified.

Iringe-Koko said: “I can confirm that three persons died after a tanker carrying petrol fell on a commercial vehicle at the Obiri Ikwerre flyover stretch of the East-West Road.

“The Fire Service has successfully put out the fire but the area has been cordoned off due to ongoing petrol leakage from the tanker.

“The Commissioner of Police, Tunji Disu, and I were on the ground earlier to assess the situation.”

The police spokesperson added traffic on the road had been diverted from the flyover to alternative routes to prevent further casualties.

The Star