A devastating tanker explosion in the Okpe Local Government Area of Delta State has left a trail of tragedy, with at least eight individuals, including a three-year-old child and her mother, presumed dead.
According to reports from PUNCH Online, the incident unfolded as the tanker, traveling from Effurun, lost control while attempting to overtake another truck near the boundary bridge between Uvwie and Okpe Local Government Area.
Eyewitnesses recounted the horrific scene, describing how the victims were engulfed by flames, rendering them unrecognizable. Several others suffered injuries of varying severity and were rushed to nearby hospitals for treatment.
The explosion, which occurred around 10 am, inflicted extensive damage, ravaging buildings, vehicles, and heavy-duty trucks in its wake.
Witnesses narrated the heart-wrenching tale of the mother who, in a desperate attempt to save her child, became trapped in the inferno. Tragically, both mother and child succumbed to the flames.
Among the casualties was also a secondary school boy, returning home from school, only to meet his untimely demise in the fiery blaze.
As the community grapples with the aftermath of the tragedy, Prince Enjinyere, the Director-General of the Warri, Uvwie and Environs Development Agency (WUEDA), was on-site, evaluating the extent of the damage and coordinating efforts to remove the fuel-laden tanker from the road, mitigating the risk of further catastrophe.
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