Tanker explosion leaves many fires, buildings and vehicles flattened in Edo – THIS UPDATE

Several people are feared dead and others seriously burned on Thursday after a petrol tanker exploded at Oluku along the Benin-Lagos highway in Ovia North-East Local Government Area of ​​Edo State, destroying buildings, shops, vehicles and other properties.

The tanker, loaded with Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), reportedly fell earlier in the day paid its contents in the busy Oluku market area.

People who had gathered around the fallen tanker were said to have started collecting the spilled petrol before the tanker suddenly caught fire around 1pm, triggering a huge inferno.

The fire quickly spread to the surrounding area, consuming shops and buildings around drains and hitting nearby vehicles.

Several people involved in the inferno reportedly suffered severe burns, with eyewitnesses saying some victims were burned beyond recognition.

At the time of writing, the exact number of victims had not yet been officially confirmed.

However, 11 victims who suffered severe burns were rushed to the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) for emergency medical treatment.

An eyewitness who was among those collecting the spilled petrol said he narrowly escaped death after a soldier at the scene warned him of the danger of gathering around the leaking tank.

According to the eyewitness, the soldier drew his attention to the bright sunlight and the large number of people collecting fuel around the tanker.

He said that shortly after he walked away, the tank suddenly caught fire, sending people in the area fleeing for their lives.

“I was also among those who were collecting the fuel. I narrowly escaped. It was a soldier who called me and drew my attention to the fact that it was sunny and that the way people rushed to collect the fuel could start a fire. As I looked back after he spoke to me, the tanker caught fire while people in the area were running for their lives. I thank the soldier; otherwise I would have already been burnt,” the eyewitness said.

He added that two men who were directly under the tank were burned, while several shops built around the drainage were consumed by the fire.

The source said the inferno also affected vehicles trapped in the area, adding that the number of people who may have died remained unknown.

UBTH mobilizes emergency response

At the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, emergency personnel were immediately mobilized to accommodate and treat casualties brought from the scene.

UBTH Chief Medical Director Professor Idia Ize-Iyamu personally took charge of the emergency response, coordinating medical teams from accident, emergency and burn units as they struggled to stabilize seriously injured victims.

Medical personnel worked to prevent further casualties and provide urgent care to those who suffered severe burns.

The Edo State Fire Service also dispatched personnel to the scene to battle the inferno and prevent it from spreading further, while security personnel and other emergency responders participated in the rescue and evacuation operations.

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