Nigeria: Pregnant woman, 3 children, others lost lives in fuel tanker explosion in Ondo state
FIRE
A devastating incident occurred on Sunday evening, July 23, as a fuel-laden tanker exploded in Ore, Odigbo council area of Ondo state, claiming the lives of a pregnant woman, three children, and 18 others.
The tragic accident unfolded when the tanker driver lost control of the vehicle, leading to a crash. Subsequently, the spilled fuel attracted victims who rushed to the scene to scoop its contents, resulting in a catastrophic explosion.
According to reports from Vanguard, the ignition of the fire was triggered by a spark from a phone used by one of the individuals scooping fuel from the spilled tank. An eyewitness account shared by a person identified as Cyriacus shed light on the incident.
The witness stated that the tragedy occurred while they were inside a church, with the tanker falling and spilling its contents on the road nearby.
Despite warnings issued by the pastor of the church to refrain from approaching the scene and attempting to scoop fuel, many people disregarded the cautionary advice. The allure of free fuel proved irresistible to some, leading to the fateful decision to approach the tanker despite the potential risks.
“We were inside the church when we heard that the tanker fell. The rain was also falling. People were taking fuel when the fire started after a spark from a phone,” recounted Cyriacus.
The repercussions were heartbreaking, with three children and over 15 others losing their lives in the tragic incident. Among the victims was a pregnant woman who had intended to purchase fuel, leaving her family mourning an unimaginable loss.
