A fresh tanker explosion occurred early this morning in Ihiala part of Anambra state. It was gathered that the inferno started as a result of a fallen gas tanker in front of an army check point in between Abbot boys secondary school and Celestial church of God, in the area. According to reports, the army checkpoint burnt to ashes and also two lorries packed along the road were caught up in flames. Eyewitnesses revealed that the fire occurred for hours as men of the state fire service were nowhere to be found.

 

It was also disclosed that the soldiers were around during the fire incident but later left. Residents were accusing them due the sophistication of their barricades which won’t allow tankers turn in peace. The fire incident is coming days after an explosion caused by spillage from a petrol-laden tanker at the Amawbia roundabout old Onitsha Expressway, Awka South area of Anambra State, resulted in multiple casualties and destruction of property worth millions of naira. Seven persons were confirmed dead by the Police in Anambra State, following the petrol tanker fire Saturday night at Amawbia Roundabout. It was gathered that the fire started when tanker carrying petrol fell at Amawbia Roundabout in Awka, the state capital, at about 10 p.m. The petrol in the tanker also flowed freely through a drainage channel, spreading the fire further. No fewer than eight other vehicles were completely burnt by the fire, which also damaged many buildings.

Hours after the fire, an official of the traffic agency said two deaths had been confirmed. However, yesterday morning, the Anambra police spokesperson, Haruna Mohammed, said the death toll had increased to seven. “So far, seven persons were certified dead at various hospitals by medical doctors while the only surviving victim was admitted at Intensive Care Unit of the University Teaching Hospital, Nnewi,” he said. According to Mohammed, three of the bodies were deposited at Amaku General Hospital morgue, Awka, two at Regina Caeli Hospital, Awka and another two at Piston Hospital morgue, Awka. He added that post-mortem examination would be conducted to ascertain exact cause of their death. By yesterday morning sympathisers were still thronging to the scene of the incident to catch a glimpse of the burnt vehicles, buildings and other valuables affected by the fire. A tricycle operator, Sunday Ugwu, said: “I was just driving through this road when the fire started Saturday night, so when I found out I could not escape with my keke, I parked it and ran away.”

Source: National Helm