By Ikhazuagbe Ojiekere
OKPE, Delta State (Sundiata Post) – Eight persons have been reportedly killed in a tanker explosion at Omenta Okpe community in Okpe Local Government Area of Delta State.
Sundiata Post reports that the explosion which happened about 10am on Friday claimed the lives of the eight persons.
Among the victims are a three-month- old child and her mother, a secondary school student between the age of 16 and five others.
Sundiata Post gathered that the mother of the three-month-old child was trapped in the raging inferno as she was making efforts to rescue her child, while the secondary school student was said to have just returned from school when he met his untimely death in the fire.
Eyewitness said that the victims were burnt beyond recognition while several others sustained varied degrees of injuries and were rushed to the hospital for medical attention.
Several buildings both residential and commercials, makeshift caravans, vehicles and heavy-duty trucks were also destroyed.
It was gathered that the explosion occurred as the ill-fated tanker coming from Effurun lost control while trying to overtake another truck a few metres away from the boundary bridge between Uvwie and Okpe Local Government Area.
The Director General of the Warri, Uvwie and environs development agency Wueda, Prince Enjinyere was at the scene to assess the level of damage caused by the explosion.
It was learnt that the Director General mobilized support to evacuate the bucket of the fuel laden truck off the road to avoid further damage.
Meanwhile, the Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori has visited the scene of the incident and commiserated with the Ometan community and families of those who lost their lives.
Speaking at the accident scene, Governor Oborevwori flanked by Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Hon. Emomotimi Guwor and former Chairman of Okpe Local Government Council, Hon Isaiah Esiovwa, empathised 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 Government Council informing me of the sad incident.
“On getting here I saw dead bodies and those who witnessed the unfortunate incident, said the tanker had an accident and exploded which led to the fire explosion.
“It is a very sad situation and I commiserate with the people of Ometan community and families of those who lost their lives in this unfortunate incident”, he said.
