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Five people have been confirmed dead and over 70 cars burnt in the tanker explosion at the Eleme section of the East-West Road in Rivers State on Friday night.
Confirming the casualty, the spokesperson for the State Police Command, Grace Iringe-Koko, on Saturday, said, “For now about five persons are dead. The Commissioner of Police and his team were on the ground last night to ensure there is no breakdown of law and order.”
Our correspondent gathered that a team of firemen from the Indorama Petrochemical Company assisted by firemen from other private firms battled for about two hours before the fire was put out.
An eyewitness who pleadey anonymous said the incident followed a petrol-laden tanker which collided with a heavy-duty truck, spilling its contents and bursting into flames.
He said the fire spread to a long stretch of vehicles plying the Akpajo-Onne Road following the gridlock which is a usual occurrence on the road now under construction.
Baridi said, “You know that because of the bad road, there is no alternative route so many vehicles were caught in the fire. Some people inside their vehicles who tried to escape the fire were trapped in the fire and died.”
Meanwhile, a source from the Government House, Port Harcourt said the state governor, Siminalayi Fubara, would be visiting the scene of the explosion.
