…Gov Fubara visits site, pledges to support victim’s families
Initial estimates indicate that five people lost their lives while 120 vehicles were burnt beyond repair when a petrol tanker-truck exploded Friday evening on the Eleme axis of Nigeria’s A-342 Highway, also known as the East-West Road.
The tanker-truck carrying petrol was said to have exploded, spewing fuel and flames unto other vehicles caught in a traffic build-up.
Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, who visited the scene of the mishap on Saturday, confirmed five deaths and 120 burnt vehicles.
More details are expected as relevant agencies conduct their investigations.
Governor Fubara, was accompanied on his visit to the site by the State Commissioner for Police, Olatunji Disu and the Commissioner for Energy, Maximus Nwafor.
The governor directed security agencies to conduct a thorough assessment of the accident to facilitate the provision of aid to victims’ families.
He said, “Yesterday (Friday) around 7-8pm, we go information about a very serious inferno that was caused by a tanker conveying PMS.
“I got the information through the MD of Indorama and immediately alerted the security agencies. From what we are seeing this morning, it was a very unpleasant case.
“We recorded, from what I am seeing, a huge number of vehicles being destroyed and souls lost. I have already asked the security agencies to give us a full brief. So that we can come into the situation fully by seeing how much we can support the families of the bereaved and see how we can cushion the effect of the losses.”
