Eight persons were confirmed dead in a petroleum tanker explosion at the Ometan-Okpe community along the ever-busy Effurun-Sapele Road in Okpe local government area of Delta state on Friday.
A correspondent who visited the scene of the incident gathered that a breastfeeding mother and her three-month-old baby were among the casualties.
The mother was reportedly burnt to death while trying to rescue her three-month-old baby who was trapped in the inferno.
Sources at the scene of the incident also disclosed that a 16-year-old secondary schoolgirl and her mother who were trapped in their apartment were among the deceased.
Sympathisers covered the lifeless bodies of the victims with zinc while a total of seven residential buildings, an oil and gas company complex and chains of makeshift buildings were razed by the explosion. Also destroyed were three vehicles and heavy duty truck
The fuel-laden tanker was said to have exploded and razed buildings and other property in the community.
The incident reportedly happened after a tanker said to be carrying fuel developed a mechanical fault and reportedly lost the head while in motion thereby resulting in an explosion on the busy Ometan-Okpe junction.
Eyewitnesses at the scene, who not only described the scene as chaotic and horrific, blamed the incident on the tanker driver whom they accused of overspeeding.
“The state government should come to the rescue of property owners who lost their houses and other means of livelihood to the unfortunate incident” they pleaded.
Meanwhile, Governor Sheriff Oborevwori who visited the scene of the accident, commiserated with the people of Ometan-Okpe community over the unfortunate incident.
Speaking at the accident scene, Governor Oborevwori, flanked by Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Hon. Emomotimi Guwor and former Chairman of Okpe local government council, Isaiah Esiovwa, empathized with the community on the unfortunate incident.
“I was just coming from the creeks where I went to inspect projects and there was no network so immediately I arrived at the Navy jetty, I received a message from the Head of Personnel Management of Okpe local government council informing me of the sad incident.
“On getting here I saw dead bodies and those who witnessed the unfortunate incident said the tanker had an accident and exploded which led to the fire explosion.
“It is a very sad situation and I commiserate with the people of Ometan-Okpe community and families of those who lost their lives in this unfortunate incident.” Gov Oborevwori said.
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