One person, thirteen buses and properties including houses worth millions of Naira went up in flames when a tanker fully loaded with petrol fell and exploded in Onitsha, Anambra State, on Sunday evening.
The incident which rendered properties worth millions useless took place at Ogidi around the popular International Building Materials market, Onitsha, at about 5 pm on Sunday, Nigerian Tribune gathered.
Nigerian Tribune also gathered that the fire emanated from a fallen tanker conveying inflammable content which fell into a drainage and sparked fire after spilling its content.
One of the residents of the area, who spoke to our correspondent on phone, said the tanker was stationary when another articulated vehicle trailer rammed into it after it lost control.
He said: “Several luxury buses parked around the area immediately went up in flames. Shops and buildings within the area were also not left out too. The fire was too much that it was difficult for fire service officers to battle.”
Another witness, simply identified as Emeka, noted that the fire could have escalated to other parts of the area if not for the quick arrival of his men and assistance from other stations, including the one inside the market.
“The buses and shops affected in the incident were those within the area. I don’t know the number of dead persons but I think the arrival of fire service in time also helped to put out the fire.”
Anambra Police Command spokesman, DSP Tochukwu Ikenga, while confirming the incident, said it was unfortunate that one life was lost.
He, however, assured that the police personnel had cordoned off the area and with the assistance of the fire service department, the situation had been brought under control.
Meanwhile, Chief Fire Service in the state, Engr. Martin Agbili, could not be reached as at the time of filing this report.
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