Two people have tragically lost their lives after a tanker carrying petroleum exploded on Tuesday along Umunya road of the Enugu-Onitsha Expressway. According to eyewitness reports, the tanker plunged into the gutter running alongside the road when its driver lost control of the vehicle and then promptly went up in flames. Caught in the resulting explosion were the yet-to-be-identified drivers of the Mack model tanker and urban shuttle bus.
The driver of the tanker had been speeding when his brakes failed, ramming into the unsuspecting shuttle bus in front of him and sending both careening into the gutter where they promptly caught fire and exploded.
There was an immediate panic as residents and other motorists attempted to flee before the flames spread to the nearby filling station and caused an even bigger catastrophe, leading to traffic congestion and general confusion. Unfortunately, five people in total were caught in the flames, all of them male with one person burnt beyond all recognition. Thankfully, three of the five managed to escape the conflagration unhurt.
Members of the State Fire Service quickly arrived at the scene, according to accounts, and aided by residents and passersby managed to put out the fire before the situation escalated. In the meantime, the corpses of the deceased have been handed over to the police operatives of the Oyi Division, Nteje for safekeeping for the time being.
