In a desperate attempt to save her trapped three-month-old baby, a nursing mother lost her life in a petrol tanker fire on Friday at Ometan-Okpe in Delta State, while eight others also perished.
The tanker explosion occurred at 10.05 a.m. in the Ometan-Okpe community on the ever-busy Effurun-Sapele Road in Delta State’s Okpe Local Government Area.
The petrol-laden tanker developed a mechanical fault and reportedly lost its head while in motion, which led to an explosion, according to reports reaching Persecondnews.
The tanker exploded, and the fire consumed buildings and other property in the fast-developing community.
A 16-year-old secondary schoolgirl and her mother, trapped in their apartment, are among the fatalities.
Witnesses blamed the tanker driver’s recklessness for the incident.
The explosion destroyed seven residential buildings, an oil and gas company complex, and chains of makeshift buildings.
Also destroyed were three vehicles and a heavy-duty truck.
Meanwhile, Gov. Sheriff Oborevwori has visited the accident scene and commiserated with the people of the Ometan-Okpe community over the unfortunate incident.
“I was just coming from the creeks where I went to inspect projects, and there was no network, so immediately I arrived at the Navy jetty, and I received a message from the Head of Personnel Management of Okpe Local Government Council informing me of the sad incident.
“On getting here, I saw dead bodies, and those who witnessed the unfortunate incident said the tanker had an accident and exploded, which led to the fire.
“It is a very sad situation, and I commiserate with the people of the Ometan-Okpe community and the families of those who lost their lives in this unfortunate incident,” the governor said.
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