From Emmanuel Uzor, Abakaliki

Tragedy struck in the evening of yesterday as nine persons were roasted to death  in a petrol tanker fire accident at 135 Junction along the Abakaliki-Enugu Expressway.

Daily Sun gathered that the accident involved a petrol tanker lorry and a commercial bus that were driving in the  opposite direction few metres away from Ohaukwu local government headquarters, Ezamgbo.

The tanker was said to have  rammed into an oncoming commercial vehicle and caught fire after it had a burst tyre and lost control. Three persons were burnt beyond recognition, while other six victims died at various points as a result of various degrees of burnt sustained in the inferno.

According to a fire fighter at Ebonyi Fire Service Commission, who preferred anonymity,  the accident was caused by a trailer whose front tyre burst and lost control while it ran into a coaster bus.

The sources said the trailer rammed into the coaster bus after it lost control, adding that a motorcycle also collided with the two vehicles and went up in flames.

“It was a terrible accident, eight people were burnt beyond recognition; our director is still at the scene with the Commissioner for Power, Mr. Emmanuel Uguru and men of the road safety to ascertain the  number of deaths at the meantime.

The Public Relations Officer of the FRSC also said the sector commander was still at the accident scene to ascertain the number of deaths at the time of this report.

“We can’t give the exact number of deaths in the incident now, till tomorrow,” the PRO said.