In what can be described as a new year tragedy, about five persons were reportedly feared dead, several injured, while a yet-to-be quantified volume of property, including banks, and vehicles got burnt following a tanker explosion on Sunday in Agbor, Ika South local government area of Delta state.
The petrol-laden tanker which reportedly spilled its content after a crash exploded into flames and consequently consumed all persons on its pathway.
The incident, according to our correspondent, occurred in the afternoon along the Old Lagos-Asaba Road by the First Bank in the Agbor Central.
Multiple sources at the scene said the petrol tanker went up in flames after it fell off while attempting to make a turn at the old Lagos/Asaba road.
“It happened just this afternoon, many died. It will be difficult to put a figure to it because we don’t know the actual number. Though five persons were said to have been killed when it happened, but from what we are seeing now, more must have also fallen victims.
“But one thing we know is that an unspecified number of people were injured, houses burnt, so also were banks, as well as vehicles parked in that environment. This is not something one can describe,” volunteered a group of eyewitnesses.
In its own account, the state Police Command confirmed the incident, pointing out that both the First Bank and Access Bank branches in the town were also caught up in the fire incident.
The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Mr Bright Edafe, also said four houses, including an Anglican Church, and two vehicles were also razed.
Although some persons at the scene of the incident said, they were yet to see firefighters as the fire intensified, but the director of the state fire services, Eugene Oziwele confirmed the story.
According to him, the casualties were many, stressing that that firemen from Asaba joined their Agbor counterparts as well as those from the federal fire service to put out the fire.
“You know Agbor is a sloppy place, as the spilt fuel was flowing, the fire was spreading. If you ask how many lives were lost, I don’t know but one is that the casualties were much,” Oziwele said.