Tanker Accident Claims Over 20 lives in Imo
Latest Headlines, News Across Nigeria, News From The State Sunday, November 26th, 2017
From Ignatius Okpara, Owerri
(AFRICAN EXAMINER) – Over 20 passengers have reportedly burnt to death at Njamba bridge, Orlu road in Imo state Southeast Nigeria, after a tanker conveying Kerosene fell and caught fire.
The incident, which caused serious trafficking jam for several hours, forced some vehicles, especially those returning to Orlu from Owerri to make a u turn.
However, an eyewitness account had it that the tanker which was on its way to Owerri, suddenly lost control while ascending the hill on the Njaba Bridge and started rolling backward before it burst into flames, which engulfed on an eighteen seater bus that was following behind and burnt the whole occupants to death.
Kayode Aremu, the Imo state commander of the federal Road Safety Commission, FRSC,who confirmed the unfortunate incident to newsmen, said he was yet to be briefed on the actual casualty figure.
According to him “My men are at the scene of the incident on rescue mission and controlling traffic.
“We have not ascertained the cause of the accident and we don’t have the casualty figure yet.”
Reacting to the tragedy, the state Police public Relations Officer PPRO, Andrew Enwerem, said, “Immediately we learnt of the incident, the command quickly contacted professional fire fighters.
“They are at the scene battling to extinguish the inferno. We don’t have the casualty figure ye, the situation is being managed,”
Meanwhile, African Examiner gathered that corpses of the victims had been deposited in various mortuary within the town.
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