By Ken Afor
Tragedy struck on the East-West road in Rivers state when a tanker carrying Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) exploded at the Obiri-Ikwerre flyover in Port Harcourt, the state capital city, claiming two lives on Tuesday, June 4.
It was gathered that the incident occurred at around 9:25 am, when the tanker overturned while attempting to navigate the bypass, instantly igniting a fierce fire that engulfed a nearby saloon car, trapping two occupants inside.
Tuesday’s accident would be the latest in about a month after a similar fuel tanker explosion along the Eleme axis of the East-West Road, which resulted in multiple fatalities and widespread destruction.
According to an eyewitness account, the two occupants inside the car were unable to escape the flames and lost their lives, succumbing to the intense heat of the fire that engulfed their vehicle.
The source stated, “My office is just close by here. It was a terrible sight. Two persons inside a salon car parked nearby were burnt beyond recognition.
“The tanker was trying to negotiate through the flyover when it fell and the explosion occurred.”
The Obiri-Kwere flyover serves as a critical link to the Port Harcourt International Airport, situated in the Ikwerre local government area of Rivers State.
Another eyewitness described how the deafening sound of the explosion reverberated through the surrounding residential areas, sparking fear and chaos among locals.
He narrated: “It was about past 9 am 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. Some people were even videoing the fire with their phones.”
Confirming the incident, the spokesperson for the State Police Command, Grace Iringe-Koko, said two persons died as a result of the explosion.
She said: “Yes, I can confirm that two individuals lost their lives in the tanker fire. The Commissioner of Police and I are currently on the scene.
“Although the fire has been extinguished, the area remains hazardous due to the ongoing gas leak. Motorists are advised to use alternative routes to avoid further casualties. An investigation is ongoing.”
