No fewer than 20 people died early Sunday morning when a tanker conveying petroleum product exploded on the ever-busy Warri-Benin highway, in Delta State.
The incident occurred at Koko junction in Warri North Government Area of Delta State.
The victims died while scooping fuel from the fuel tanker which had earlier fell and spilled its content on the road.
Eye witnesses said the explosion was triggered by sparks from a faulty vehicle meandering its way out of the spot where scoopers were busy to get free fuel.
Eyewitnesses further said the victims included a pregnant woman, children and adults.
“We tried to prevent them but the youths threatened to beat us up telling us it’s their community.
“They came in their numbers carrying all sorts of containers and when the explosion happened around 12:15 am this morning we all fled.
“You can see dead bodies on the ground, some of them ran into the forest as I speak some dead bodies have been removed, I counted over 20 bodies” the eye witness who identified himself as Yusuf said.
(vitalnewsngr.com)
