A tanker explosion at the Obiri-Ikwerre flyover along the East-West at the outskirts of Port Harcourt, Rivers state, claimed two lives.
It was gathered that the tanker, laden with Liquefied Natural Gas burst into an inferno at about 9:25 am when it fell while trying to negotiate the bypass at the flyover.
The report said that the tanker crushed a salon car with two occupants inside.
According to a source, who spoke in confidence, the two occupants of the car were trapped and could not escape while the fire consumed them.
The source said: “My office is just close by here. It was a terrible sight. Two persons inside a salon car parked nearby were bunt beyond recognition.
“The tanker was trying to negotiate thought the flyover when it fell and the explosion occurred.
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Another eyewitness, who gave his name as Lucky said the sound of the explosion spread to residential areas near the flyover and caused panic.
He said: ” It was about past 9am that I was driving towards the University of Port Harcourt that I saw the flames.
” I quickly made a u-turn because I was driving. Many vehicles started making a detour to avoid the scene of the fire, somewhere even videoing the fire with their phones”.
When contacted, the spokesperson of the State Police Command, Grace Iringe-Koko, confirmed the incident and the casualty figure.
Iringe-Koko said: “Yes I can confirm that two persons died in the tanker fire. Myself and the Commissioner of Police are on the ground as I speak to you.
“The fire has been put out but the area is till dangerous because the gas is still licking. So motorists are advised to take alternative routes to avoid any further casualty. Investigation is o going.”