Pregnant woman, 49 others die in Onitsha tanker fire

Tragedy struck at the Upper Iweka
Roundabout in the commercial city
of Onitsha, Anambra State, on
Sunday when a fuel tanker rammed
into a building and caused an
inferno.
It was gathered that no fewer than
50 persons, including a pregnant
woman and some children, were
burnt by the fire, which also
consumed about 15 buses.
Our correspondents learnt that
some “ newspaper free readers”,
at newsstands were among the
victims.
Eyewitnesses said that one of the
buses was loading passengers in a
park near the scene of the incident
when the flames consumed it and
three motorcycles at about 3pm.
One of them, who gave his name
simply as Okechukwu, said the
driver of the tanker was
descending the Upper Iweka Road
from the Enugu-Nkpor Road when
he lost control of the vehicle.
He added, “We learnt that the
tanker suffered a brake failure and
the driver lost control.
“I think he tried to stop the vehicle
with some of the barriers on the
road, but unfortunately the tanker
rammed into a building and fell.”
Okechukwu said the tanker caught
fire 10 minutes after ramming into
the building. He added that the
tanker was on its way to Asaba in
Delta State when the incident
happened.
It was gathered that the inferno
attracted many residents of the city
who were helpless. Many of them
reportedly resorted to crying.
Another eyewitness, Joseph
Ugwuanyi, on his Facebook page
wrote, “At about 1pm to 2pm, a
fuel tanker rammed into the busy
Asaba Park in Upper Iweka Road,
Onitsha, and went up in flames,
maiming scores. The fire lasted for
approximately an hour before
firefighters were able to control it.
“Many of us initially thought there
were no casualties, though some
people sustained serious injuries
while fleeing the scene.
“However, it was later learnt after
the fire subsided that there was a
massive carnage of victims who
were either caught unawares or
those who were already seated in
the now charred buses in the park.
“They reportedly were burnt
beyond recognition in the hour-
long intense fire.”
The Anambra State Commissioner
of Police, Hosea Karma, who visited
the scene of the incident with
senior police officers of the
command, could be seen directing
the evacuation of the charred
remains of the victims.
As of 5.15pm, charred bodies were
still being evacuated from the area
by security and para-military
operatives as well as officers of
the Federal Road Safety Corps.
Karma described the incident as
“tragic and unfortunate.”
He said the tanker was coming
from Oguta Road and was trying to
link up with Owerri Road when the
driver lost control .
The Commissioner of Police said,
“All the persons inside the buses ─ I
think about 12 buses ─ were burnt
beyond recognition.
“Scores of other victims, who were
still alive, were immediately
rushed to a nearby hospital.
“We cannot state the number of
those involved in the incident
because we are still working. The
number will come after the end of
the evacuation.”
It was gathered that the Anambra
State Governor, Willie Obiano,
broke down in tears at the scene of
the incident.
The state Commissioner for
Transport, Chief Chuma Mbonu,
described the incident as
unfortunate.
He said the information with the
government was that 14 vehicles
were burnt, while scores of people
were trapped.

So sad

RIP

RIP

May there souls rest in peace.

Amen

It is so.

eddyvic wrote:

It is so.

That was why I said amen

Ok, just say that to nail the amen.

What a tragedy?

Abi o

God put end to dis in our nation o

OLOBE wrote:

God put end to dis in our nation o

Amen

eddyvic wrote:

OLOBE wrote:

God put end to dis in our nation o

Amen

GOD have answer u already