Scores of people have been burnt to death in petrol tanker explosion that occurred at Ugwu Onyama Federal Highway on Saturday morning in Enugu State.
This was as several others were reportedly injured in the inferno which destroyed yet to be counted vehicles.
A tanker driver, who gave his name as Eziechina disclosed that the tragic incident claimed so many lives.
He said some others who were injured have been taken to nearby hospitals.
He said, “Yes, there was a big tragedy this afternoon at Ugwu Onyama Federal Highway. A tanker carrying premium motor spirit (PMS), otherwise known as petrol, fell at the hilly road and spilled the product down the road. Unfortunately, it caught fire and all the vehicles plying the road at the time caught fire and burned people beyond recognition.
“As I am speaking with you, over 10 people including children have been burnt beyond recognition. Some have just been loaded in a pick-up van to the morgue now. So many others have been loaded in a vehicle and taken to a morgue earlier. As we speak, there’s no road through Ugwu Onyama.
“I am trapped somewhere in Ngwo. The situation is tragic. The second lane of the road is impassable. The fire raged along the road leading to Agu-abor.”
It is not yet ascertained the number of the casualties as authorities in the state are yet to issue any statement on the incident.
The Enugu incident comes exactly a week after scores of people including a pregnant woman were killed in a tanker explosion at Dikko in Niger State, near Abuja, the nation’s capital.
The tragic incident occurred last Saturday morning near Dikko Junction along Minna Road, killing at least 98 people injuring scores of others.
