No fewer than eight persons, including a mother and her child, were reportedly burnt to death in a petroleum tanker explosion at Ometan-Okpe community, along Effurun-Sapele Road, Okpe Local Council of Delta State.
The Guardian gathered that the mother of the three month-old-baby was roasted while attempting to rescue her baby, who was trapped in the inferno.
The fuel laden tanker also razed several residential buildings, an oil and gas company complex and some makeshift buildings, three vehicles and heavy duty truck worth billions of naira.
A witness said that the incident occurred, on Friday, as the tanker carrying fuel developed mechanical fault, and exploded at Ometan-Okpe junction. The lifeless bodies of some of the victims, which included a 16-year-old secondary schoolgirl and her mother trapped in their apartment were still at the spot, where they were burnt, as at yesterday.
Those at the scene of the incident blamed the tanker driver, who they accused of overspeeding. Meanwhile, the State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, has commiserated with the people of Ometan-Okpe community over the unfortunate incident.
Oborevwori, with the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Emomotimi Guwor and former Chairman of Okpe Local Council, Isaiah Esiovwa, sympathised 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 the Navy jetty, I received a message from the Head of Personnel Management of Okpe Local Council informing me of the sad incident.”
“On getting here, I saw dead bodies and those who witnessed the unfortunate incident, said the tanker fi explosion caused the fire.
“It is a very sad situation and I commiserate with the people of Ometan-Okpe community and families of those who lost their lives.”
