Ten persons who sustained severe burns in a tanker explosion at Oluku, in Ovia North-East Local Government Area of Edo State, have been rushed to the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) for treatment. The explosion reportedly occurred at about 1pm after residents began scooping fuel from a fallen tanker. The tanker was said to have fallen earlier in the morning, attracting residents who rushed to the scene to scoop the spilled petroleum product.
An eyewitness said the leaked fuel flowed into drainages around Oluku Market, where stores had been erected, before the incident triggered a fire that spread to nearby shops and vehicles. According to the eyewitness, some motorists who drove against traffic in the area were also affected by the inferno. “I was also among those who were scooping the fuel. I escaped by whiskers.
It was a soldier who called me and drew my attention to the fact that it was sunny and way the people rushed to scoop the fuel might ignite fire. “As I looked back after he spoke to me, the tanker busted into flames as people around the area ran for dear lives. I thank the soldier, if not I would have been burnt by now. “Two men from the Northern part of who were directly under the tanker were burnt while stores that were built on the drainage were burnt.
Store were also burnt down as we are yet to know the number of people that died. However, 10 people were rushed to the emergency unit of the UBTH. When journalists visited UBTH, the hospital management had mobilised emergency personnel to attend to the victims brought in for treatment. The Chief Medical Director of UBTH, Prof. Idia Ize-Iyamu, reportedly took charge of the emergency response, coordinating medical teams across the accident and emergency and burns units to stabilise critically injured victims and reduce the risk of fatalities. Meanwhile, personnel of the Edo State Fire Service were at the scene battling the fire.
