Two Dead, Many Houses Destroyed As Gas Tanker Explodes in Delta
Category: Bizarre & Strange News
Two persons have been burnt beyond recognition and over 30 houses and
properties worth millions of naira were destroyed in a gas explosion in Ohoror
community, Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State on Thursday.
The explosion was said to have occurred when a granite truck rammed into a stationary tanker laden with Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) at Ohoror junction axis of the East/West road at about 3:00 a.m when residents of the community were still asleep.
An indigene of the community, Mr Dennis Israel, said the granite truck was headed towards Port Harcourt from Ughelli when the driver lost control and rammed into the tanker.
He said the truck also collided with other tankers parked by the roadside leading to a huge explosion.
According to Israel, the driver of the LPG tanker and his conductor were burnt beyond recognition in the resulting fire, adding that over 30 houses and properties were also affected.
“The tanker drivers double-parked along the roadside and the granite truck rammed into one of them which fell on the parked ones and the products loaded automatically discharged.
“About four trucks were parked along the roadside with different products that were loaded, ranging from diesel, fuel, kerosene and gas and when the accident occurred. The tanker with diesel fell and emptied all its content on the ground and from there, the fire destroyed everything,” he narrated.
One of the victims, Sapele Clement, said he and other survivors in the community were left with nothing but the clothes on them.
‘Officials initially offered to help but when the number of able-bodied citizens at the center increased, they left us unattended to’
“We want the government to come to our aid as we have been left with nothing, all the properties we labored for have gone down the drain in a twinkle of an eye,” he lamented.
Meanwhile, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta, has called for immediate assessment of the cause of the explosion.
Okowa made the call when he personally visited the scene of the incident where he commiserated with the community on the tragedy and gave assurances that government would take steps to cushion the effects of the inferno on the victims.
The explosion was said to have occurred when a granite truck rammed into a stationary tanker laden with Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) at Ohoror junction axis of the East/West road at about 3:00 a.m when residents of the community were still asleep.
An indigene of the community, Mr Dennis Israel, said the granite truck was headed towards Port Harcourt from Ughelli when the driver lost control and rammed into the tanker.
He said the truck also collided with other tankers parked by the roadside leading to a huge explosion.
According to Israel, the driver of the LPG tanker and his conductor were burnt beyond recognition in the resulting fire, adding that over 30 houses and properties were also affected.
“The tanker drivers double-parked along the roadside and the granite truck rammed into one of them which fell on the parked ones and the products loaded automatically discharged.
“About four trucks were parked along the roadside with different products that were loaded, ranging from diesel, fuel, kerosene and gas and when the accident occurred. The tanker with diesel fell and emptied all its content on the ground and from there, the fire destroyed everything,” he narrated.
One of the victims, Sapele Clement, said he and other survivors in the community were left with nothing but the clothes on them.
‘Officials initially offered to help but when the number of able-bodied citizens at the center increased, they left us unattended to’
“We want the government to come to our aid as we have been left with nothing, all the properties we labored for have gone down the drain in a twinkle of an eye,” he lamented.
Meanwhile, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta, has called for immediate assessment of the cause of the explosion.
Okowa made the call when he personally visited the scene of the incident where he commiserated with the community on the tragedy and gave assurances that government would take steps to cushion the effects of the inferno on the victims.
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