Black Independence Day anniversary: At least, 20 roasted in tanker explosion

No fewer than 20 people including a pregnant woman and children were in the weehours of Sunday killed following a petrol tanker explosion on Warri-Benin Expressway.

Persecondnews reports that a 33,000- litre tanker had fallen on the highway, spilling its contents.

Villagers had moved to the accident scene to scoop petrol and in the process, a spark from a faulty vehicle ignited fire, burning at 20 people.

Among those who lost their lives in the incident which occurred in the early hours of Sunday at Koko junction along Warri-Benin highway in Warri North council area of Delta State, included a pregnant woman, children, and some elderly people.

An witness said after the tanker fell, while some people tried to prevent petrol scoopers the youths threatened to beat them up, insisting on siphoning the commodity.

“They came in their numbers carrying all sorts of containers and when the explosion happened around 12:15 am this morning we all fled.

“You can see dead bodies on the ground, some of them ran into the forest as I speak some dead bodies have been removed, I counted over 20 bodies,” the witness said.