Tanker
Ondo tanker fire victims. Eight persons perished in the gasoline tanker fire that broke out on Sunday along the Benin-Ore-Sagamu Expressway, according to the Federal Road Safety Corps’ Ondo Sector Command.
This comes right after an eyewitness told our journalist that three children, two pregnant ladies, and two other people perished in the fire.
The FRSC’s casualty figure contradicted the earlier report on the incident which claimed that 20 persons were burnt to death.
Speaking on the incident on Monday, the Sector Commander of the FRSC, Mr Ezekiel Son’Allah, confirmed that the victims were scooping fuel from the fallen tanker when the fire broke out.
“The driver who was involved lost focus and exceeded the speed limit, which led to the accident. 8 persons passed away.
“The driver and motor boy of the vehicle escaped unhurt, but the eight villagers scooping fuel got burnt in the act. The dead bodies were taken to the morgue of the General Hospital, Ore,” he said.
Some residents of the area who spoke about the incident insisted that over 20 people, including two pregnant women and three children, died in the fire while others sustained injuries.
Additionally, they clarified that some of the victims were bystanders and that not all of the victims were those collecting fuel.
Susan Jerry, a local, verified that some of the victims went to the scene of the accident to get gasoline.
“More than 20 people suffered horrific burns. Three children, two pregnant ladies, and two other people died, according to Jerry.
Another resident, Tijani Diekola, said the tanker driver lost control of the vehicle and entered the ditch around 4.30pm on Sunday.
He further said that before the event occurred at 6 o’clock, individuals were scooping petrol at the scene.
“I encountered roughly 10 burned dead bodies this morning (Monday), while those near the tanker are unrecognizable. Officials from the FRSC placed them in a sack, he alleged.
He explained that trouble started when the fuel started spilling into a stream in the community while the residents continued to scoop the fuel with buckets and kegs until the explosion occurred.
“Unfortunately, a woman was cooking in her kitchen when the combustible substance on the water caught fire, killing her as the fire spread back to the tanker,’ he continued.
“A pregnant mother and three other kids were caught in the river while crossing it, and they were burned beyond recognition. They couldn’t be saved by anyone moving. Some other people who were close to the tanker were also badly affected. Their remains were packed this morning.”
Meanwhile, the state government has described the incident as tragic and unfortunate.
The government’s reaction was contained in a statement by the state Commissioner for Information Orientation, Mrs Bamidele Ademola-Olateju.
The All Progressives Congress state chapter has also called the situation sad.
The party’s viewpoint was outlined in a statement released by Mr. Alex Kalejaiye, its publicity secretary.
Similarly, the lawmaker representing Odigbo 1 Constituency, Mr Olatunji Ifabiyi, in his condolence message on Monday, described the incident as unfortunate.