THE Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) have confirmed the death of 18 and the survival of 13 people in the fire incident involving a petroleum tanker that happened in Enugu State on Saturday, January 25.
It was confirmed in a statement posted on its X handle on Saturday night and signed by the Assistant Corps Marshal, Corps Public Education Officer, Olusegun Ogungbemide.
It said the crash, which resulted from a break failure, involved 17 vehicles in the category of one petroleum tanker, one water tanker, 15 other cars, and 1 tricycle.
“A total of 31 people were involved in the crash. 10 were rescued with different degrees of injuries while 3 got rescued unharmed.
“Unfortunately, the 18 remaining victims were burnt beyond recognition,” the FRSC confirmed.
According to the statement, preliminary report received by the Corps Marshal, Shehu Mohammed, the tanker which was loaded with premium motor spirit (PMS), otherwise known as petrol, experienced brake failure, and the driver lost grip of the wheels before crashing onto the 17 vehicles leading to a fire outbreak that left 11 vehicles burnt.
“The Executive Governor of Enugu State, Bar. Dr Peter Ndubuisi Mbah, Honourable Commissioners for Transportation and Health, Enugu State Commissioner of Police, FRSC Zonal Commanding Officer in charge of RS9 ENUGU, the Sector Commander Enugu and State Director Department of State Services all participated in the rescue operations,” the FRSC stated.
To ensure ease of movement along that route, the FRSC said traffic has been diverted to the inward Enugu lane. While the evacuation of burnt vehicles is ongoing.
“The Corps Marshal has therefore called on motorists plying the said road to exercise caution and use the alternative routes for safety and ease of vehicular movement while he commiserates with the families of the victims and wishes the injured quick recovery,” it added.
The Enugu tanker incident occurred barely a week after a similar incident in Suleja, Niger State, claimed over 98 lives.
In the Suleja inferno, a tanker carrying 60,000 litres of petrol overturned at Dikko Junction, spilling its contents as residents gathered to scoop fuel and leaving 98 residents killed.
Former vice president Atiku Abubakar has gone to his social media X page to sympathise with the families of the victims.
He said, “Oh dear, not again! My thoughts and prayers are with the families and friends of all the victims of the fuel tanker explosion in Enugu state. May their souls find eternal rest.”
He expressed worries that the incidents of tragic tanker explosions have reached emergency levels, calling on the government to establish an inquiry into this issue.