No fewer than 18 persons including a Pregnant Woman and three children have been recorded as fatalities resulting from a tanker explosion in a tight-knit community of Ore in Odigbo council area, Ondo State.
As per emerging reports, the victims were reportedly burnt to their death while scooping fuel from a petrol tanker that had toppled, spilling its contents and resulting in a catastrophic explosion after the driver lost control.
The occurrence was collected to have happened on Sunday evening along Showboy Road, facing Optima filling station in Ore, according to reliable sources.
Africa Today News, New York, has obtained information indicating that the fire ignited from a spark produced by a phone used by one of the individuals scooping fuel spilled from the tank.
A bystander who was present at the scene stated that they were inside the church when the tanker fell and its contents spilled on the road.
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According to Cyriacus, who introduced himself as the source, numerous individuals defied the pastor’s warning in the church and rushed to scoop fuel from the tanker.
When reached for comment, Funmi Odunlami, the state police command spokesperson, stated that she had not been informed of the incident’s details at that time.
While the state police command spokesperson lacked immediate information, a police officer in the town has since verified the incident and the casualties involved.
According to him ‘We were inside the church when we heard that tanker fell.’
‘The rain was also falling. People were taking fuel when fire started after a spark from a phone.’
‘Three children died and we have counted over 15 bodies. A pregnant woman that wanted to buy the fuel also died. The money is still with her.’
Odunlami said that ‘They were scooping fuel from a tanker when the fire started. We have commenced investigation into the matter.’
Mrs. Funmilayo Odunlami, the state Police Public Relations Officer, acknowledged the incident’s veracity and described the victims as individuals who were scooping fuel.