CALABAR – Scores of persons have been burnt and roasted to death in a fuel tanker explosion recorded at New Netim Junction, on the outskirts of Calabar, Cross River State.
The sad incident happened in the evening of Friday when the patrol tanker with a full loaded petroleum product, reportedly veered off the road at the New Netim Junction into a gully and spilling its products in the process.
An eyewitness explained that “When the tanker fell, so many people from Odukpani and neighbouring areas came with different items to scoop fuel and when the police arrived, they were told to go away but the refused to leave and after some time the tanker went up in flames and majority of them were caught in the explosion”.
“Okada riders, women, children and young people were all scooping the fuel when the explosion occurred and it is not yet known how many people died in the fire but from the crowd, I saw no less than 50 people were at the scene of the accident”.
Cross River State governor, Senator Ben Ayade has expressed his heartfelt condolences to families that lost their relatives in the sad incidence.
He said it was a tragedy that should not have occurred in the first place, adding, “My heart goes out to all the victims of the fuel tanker explosion. This is the most horrendous way to die. I am too shocked and traumatized to express the depth of my grief for the victims of the explosion.”