LAGOS JULY 23RD (URHOBOTODAY)-No fewer than seventeen persons were reportedly burnt to death in a tanker explosion near Koko junction section of the Benin/Sapele Expressway, Ethiope West council area of Delta state on Wednesday.
Four vehicles were also said to have been destroyed in the incident, which multiple sources said happened around 8am.
The Police however said only three persons died in the inferno.
It was reported that the petrol-laden Eveco truck was trying to manoeuvre a bad spot when it fell, adding that it exploded as at when residents of the area rushed to the scene to scoop fuel.
A trustworthy source said driver of the big hauler had gone to report the episode while residents were scooping fuel at the Police checkpoint in Koko intersection when they heard the blast.
A truck driver, Kola Akintayo, who saw some portion of the occurrence, said a vehicle, which was passing by scratched a metal while inhabitants kept on scooping the fuel.
“That was what caused the fire. The driver had gone to report that the big hauler fell. The following thing was fire.
“I don’t have a clue about the quantity of people that passed on in light of the fact that we were not permitted near the spot. A vehicle got burnt. The big truck got scorched as well”.
Authorities of Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and security offices supposedly helped to clear the bodies and surged other harmed people to a hospital in Oghara people group.
The occurrence caused overwhelming traffic in the bustling course, compelling explorers and suburbanites to trek great distance before proceeding with their journey.
A few dealers were seen with products on their head, justling for the little space on the clogged street.
Versatile police officers were considered attempting to control the traffic as drivers vented disappointment over the traffic clog.
The Delta State Police Command anyway affirmed just three people were scorched to the point of being indistinguishable on the spot.
Representative, DSP Onome Onowakpoyeya, stated: “The driver was attempting to arrange an awful spot when the truck fell.
“Two vehicles were burnt along with three bikes. Three people were burnt to the point of being indistinguishable”.