Petrol tanker fire kills 7, burns 12 shops, 9 vehicles in Anambra

At least, seven persons have been confirmed dead while scores of others sustained various degrees of injuries in a petrol explosion that rocked Awka, the capital city of Anambra State.

Twelve shops, nine vehicles and other properties worth millions were also affected in the inferno.

The explosion occurred around 8.40pm on Saturday, February 9, at the Amawbia Roundabout, close to the State CID in Awka.

The Anambra State Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, SP Haruna Mohammed, who broke the news in a press statement, said the tanker was negotiating a bend at the roundabout when it fell and ignited a wildfire, forcing petty traders and other people within the area to scamper for their dear life.

ALSO READ: She’s deceitful, lied she was dead —Husband

He said so far, a total number of seven corpses were certified dead at various hospitals by medical doctors while the only surviving victim was referred to the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching hospital Nnewi and was admitted at the intensive care unit of the hospital.

Consequently, out of the seven corpses confirmed dead, three are deposited at Amaku General Hospital Morgue, two at Regina Caeli Hospital and another two at Piston Hospital Morgue for postmortem examination.

Meanwhile, the Police Spokesman said the situation was brought under control and obstruction cleared adding that investigation is still ongoing to ascertain the cause.