Tragedy struck at the Upper Iweka
Roundabout in the commercial city of Onitsha, Anambra State, on Sunday
when a fuel tanker rammed into a building and caused an inferno.
Roundabout in the commercial city of Onitsha, Anambra State, on Sunday
when a fuel tanker rammed into a building and caused an inferno.
It was gathered that no fewer than 70
persons, including a pregnant woman and some children, were burnt by
the fire, which also consumed about 15 buses.
persons, including a pregnant woman and some children, were burnt by
the fire, which also consumed about 15 buses.
How the accident happened:
One of the buses
was loading passengers in a park near the scene of the incident when the
flames consumed it and three motorcycles at about 3pm. The driver of the
tanker was descending the Upper Iweka Road from the Enugu-Nkpor Road
when he lost control of the vehicle.
was loading passengers in a park near the scene of the incident when the
flames consumed it and three motorcycles at about 3pm. The driver of the
tanker was descending the Upper Iweka Road from the Enugu-Nkpor Road
when he lost control of the vehicle.
An eyewitness who spoke to reporters said, “We learnt that the tanker suffered a brake failure and the driver lost control. I think he tried to stop the vehicle
with some of the barriers on the road, but unfortunately the tanker
rammed into a building and fell.”
with some of the barriers on the road, but unfortunately the tanker
rammed into a building and fell.”
Another eyewitness, Joseph Ugwuanyi, on his Facebook
page wrote, “At about 1pm to 2pm, a fuel tanker rammed into the busy
Asaba Park in Upper Iweka Road, Onitsha, and went up in flames, maiming
scores. The fire lasted for approximately an hour before firefighters
were able to control it.
page wrote, “At about 1pm to 2pm, a fuel tanker rammed into the busy
Asaba Park in Upper Iweka Road, Onitsha, and went up in flames, maiming
scores. The fire lasted for approximately an hour before firefighters
were able to control it.
“Many of us initially thought there were no casualties, though some people sustained serious injuries while fleeing the scene.
“However, it was later learnt after the
fire subsided that there was a massive carnage of victims who were
either caught unawares or those who were already seated in the now
charred buses in the park.
fire subsided that there was a massive carnage of victims who were
either caught unawares or those who were already seated in the now
charred buses in the park.
“They reportedly were burnt beyond recognition in the hour-long intense fire.”