The Petroleum Product Retail Outlet Owners Association of Nigeria, PETROAN, has disclosed that the fire incident along the Eleme axis of the East-West Road in Rivers State, which culminated in severe damage to properties and led to loss of lives, was caused by a vehicular accident.
The State Chairman of PETROAN, Francis Dimkpa, had explained that a heavy-duty vehicle crashed into a petrol-laden truck from behind amidst heavy traffic, triggering the valve of the petrol truck to burst open.
“Subsequently, the heat from the collision had kindled the spilled petrol, setting off a fire and eventually, an explosion.” Dimkpa had said.
Dimkpa had gone on to emphasize that good road maintenance could have potentially prevented such a tragedy, recalling PETROAN’s several appeal to the government to fix the road.
Dimkpa also expressed concern that some individuals who were not eyewitnesses had busied themselves with spreading inaccurate information that the fire incident was caused by an explosion from a tanker.
In response to the losses suffered, both by PETROAN members and the general public, Dimkpa stated that the association would meet to determine the appropriate course of action.
It was earlier reported that 5 people had died and several cars, burnt down as a result of the fire incident, with some people seen trapped in cars already burnt beyond recognition.
