Uncertainty surrounds the number of persons who must have lost their lives to the fuel tanker explosion that occurred at Oluku in Ovia North-East local government area of Edo State on Thursday, while 10 persons who suffered severe burns are receiving treatment at the accident emergency and burns units of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital where they were rushed to following rescue operations by a combined team of security agencies and paramedics.
Meanwhile, the Federal Road Safety Corps said the number of deaths, if any, cannot be ascertained until the scene had been cleared of the debris, though an eyewitness claimed that two soldiers and other persons may have died in the conflagration. The tanker was said to have fallen in the morning, and residents and passers-by swooped on the area to scoop the spilled fuel which later led to an explosion at about 1pm.
According to an eyewitness account, the fuel that leaked from the tanker found its way into the drainages where stores were erected at the Oluku market.
The source stated that as soon as the fire began, shops around the market were also affected as well as vehicles who drove against traffic.
“I was also among those who were scooping the fuel. I escaped by whiskers. It was a soldier who called me and drew my attention to the fact that it was sunny and that the way the people rushed to scoop the fuel might ignite fire.
“As I looked back after he spoke to me, the tanker busted into flames as people around the area ran for dear lives. I thank the soldier, if not I would have been burnt by now.”
According to the lucky survivor, “Two men from the northern part of who were directly under the tanker were burnt while stores that were built on the drainage were burnt. Stores were also burnt down as we are yet to know the number of people that died. However, 10 people were rushed to the emergency unit of the UBTH.”
At the UBTH, members of management, led by the chief medical director, Prof. Idia Ize-Iyamu swiftly mobilised emergency services to treat and stabilize severe casualties and minimise to fatalities.
The men of the Edo State Fire Service were on ground at the scene making frantic efforts to extinguish the fire.
Speaking to journalists, Edo State Commander of the FRSC, Preye Ezekiel Bedford, said no death had been recorded so far, stating that his men, the police, military personnel and both Federal and State Fire Services were still at the scene.
Bedford said, “I got to the scene; I saw the situation. I want to thank the soldiers, the policemen that came there. Up till now, the military, fire service, are still working there. The Edo State fire tanker is still there, then the Federal Fire Service truck is still there, still trying to put out the little part of the fire that is remaining.”
Addressing the speculations that many people died, Bedford said, “Well, for now we’ve not gotten any information on that, and I think during the clearing of—evacuating of the debris – if it is true, we might get to know about it.”
On those rushed to the hospital, Bedford said: “…for casualty level, I think what I have just gotten now is just 10 casualties.”
Lamenting that “the habit of trying to scoop fuel is unbecoming,” the FRSC commander was miffed by the people’s stubbornness and hostility. He said, “Today’s own, even with the presence of the soldiers and all the rest, they were driving them. When you drive some of them, some would turn around, and they were equally even attacking the military people, attacking all the personnel; the road safety and all the rest, fire service; they were equally attacking them.
“And so, I think we still need more of enlightenments, and which we’re doing. And we’ll still carry out the enlightenment from town hall meetings, and churches and all the rest. We’ll keep preaching about this.”
