The Eleme section of the East-West Road in Rivers State became the scene of a devastating tanker explosion on Friday night, claiming the lives of five individuals and leaving over 70 vehicles charred.
Eyewitnesses recounted the horror as a petrol-laden tanker collided with a heavy-duty truck, igniting a series of explosions that engulfed nearby vehicles on the Akpajo-Onne Road, worsened by the ongoing road construction and resultant traffic congestion.
Survivors described chaotic scenes of people fleeing amidst thick smoke and flames, with some trapped inside their vehicles succumbing to the fire.
Blame for the tragedy fell on the road reconstruction efforts, with motorists lamenting the lack of alternative routes and urging faster progress to alleviate gridlock dangers.
Confirming the grim toll, State Police Command spokesperson Grace Iringe-Koko reported five fatalities, with swift police response to maintain order.
Governor Siminalayi Fubara pledged to visit the site, while emergency responders, including the State Commissioner of Police and firemen from various agencies, worked tirelessly to contain the inferno.
This incident echoes a similar catastrophe in March 2023, underscoring ongoing safety challenges in the region.
