Scores of persons have been burnt and roasted to death in a fuel tanker explosion at New Netim junction, on the outskirts of Calabar, Cross River State.
The sad incident happened at the weekend when the patrol tanker with a full loaded petroleum product reportedly veered off the road at the New Netim Junction into a gully and spilling its products in the process.
An eyewitness said, “When the tanker fell, so many people from Odukpani and neighbouring areas came with different items to scoop fuel and when the police arrived, they were told to go away but they refused to leave and after some time the tanker went up in flames and majority of them were caught in the explosion”.
“Okada riders, women, children and young people were all scooping the fuel when the explosion occurred and it is not yet known how many people died in the fire but from the crowd, I saw no less than fifty people were at the scene of the accident.”
Cross River State Governor, Senator Ben Ayade has expressed his heartfelt condolences to families that lost their relatives in the sad incidence.
He said it was a tragedy that should not have occurred in the place, saying, “My heart goes out to all the victims of the fuel tanker explosion. This is the most horrendous way to die. I am too shocked and traumatised to express the depth of my grief for the victims of the explosion.” According to the governor in a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Chief Press Secretary, Mr Christian Ita, “As a government, we must try and reach out to the victims’ families who are affected by these avoidable deaths.