Fresh details have emerged about a tragic incident that occurred yesterday in Ore, Odigbo Local Government Area of Ondo State. A pregnant woman, along with her three children and 18 others, lost their lives in a devastating tanker explosion.
The incident took place on Showboy Road, opposite Optima filling station, when the tanker driver lost control of the vehicle due to overspeeding, causing it to crash into a ditch. The impact led to a spillage of fuel, attracting people from the vicinity to scoop the fuel from the scene.
According to Tijani Diekola, a witness from the town, the situation was tense immediately after the explosion, making it difficult for anyone to approach the area. By the next morning, the relatives of the victims managed to recover their burnt bodies. Unfortunately, due to the severity of the fire, many of the victims could not be recognized and were placed in sacks by officials from the Federal Road Safety Commission. Vanguard reported.
Diekola further explained that the fuel had started spilling into a nearby stream, and despite the danger, residents continued to collect the fuel with buckets and kegs until the tragic explosion occurred. As a result, a woman who was cooking in her kitchen got caught in the fire, leading to her death. Additionally, a pregnant woman and three minors who were crossing the stream were also engulfed in the flames and were burnt beyond recognition. Several others who were in close proximity to the tanker also suffered severe injuries.
Another witness, Awalu Saliu, described the terrifying scene where over 100 people were scooping fuel directly from the tanker. When the fire erupted, chaos ensued, and many people ran for their lives. The fire reportedly started from the spilled fuel and spread to the residence of a woman, resulting in her immediate death.
Ezekiel Son-Allah, the state Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps, confirmed that eight individuals lost their lives in the fire incident while attempting to scoop fuel from the fallen tanker. He stated that the tanker driver and motor boy managed to escape unhurt.
The FRSC rescue team took charge of the situation and transported the victims’ remains to the morgue at the General Hospital in Ore. This tragic event has left the community devastated, mourning the loss of innocent lives caught in the unfortunate incident.
