From Ben Dunno, Warri
Reckless driving by four tanker drivers loaded with gas, diesel, petrol and another truck conveying granites along the East-West road end of Ohoror Community in Ughelli North Council area of Delta State had claimed the lives of two persons and burnt down 22 houses in the area.
The two persons that died have been identified as a conductor to one of the tankers and another co-driver to the granite truck. They were both burnt beyond recognition in the inferno.
Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, who was at the scene of the incident with his entourage, lamented the devastating consequences of the fire and immediately directed some top government functionaries to work with the firefighters to quench the fire still raging as at the time of filing this report.
The governor who was more concerned about the tank loaded with gas that was still lying on the ground urged the fire fighting team attacked to Ughelli unit to mobilise more water and equipment that would contain the smoke still coming from the petrol tanker close to the gas truck in order to forestall further disaster in the area.
Narrating the incident to Daily Sun, which was at the scene of the incident, Ohoror community chairman Mr Igometi Augustine said he got a distressed call on the incident at 2 am and immediately rushed out to the scene.
He disclosed that on inquiry he was reliably informed that the three (3) tankers convening gas, diesel and petrol were trying to overtake each other and along the line, the one carrying petrol hit a stationed truck with granite and they both fell leading to the fall of the other two tankers coming from behind them.
According to him, ‘it was the very tanker that was conveying diesel that actually spilt everywhere along the major Expressway and the fire that sparked off from the screeching of the other falling tankers ignited the fire that took over the entire place,’ he revealed.
‘The two persons burnt beyond recognition were a conductor and a co-driver. The community did not lose anybody but 22 houses built along the Expressway by our people were completely razed down, making many of our people homeless and distressed,’ he stated.
‘We want to appeal to the state government to come to our aid by providing our people who have lost their valuables with clothes and food first to assist them at this very critical period,’ he pleaded.
Meanwhile, at the time of this report, firefighters had mobilised additional water to the scene and were able to put out the smoke coming from the petrol tankers completely to ensure that all the dangers are averted.
