A tanker fire in Kwara results in the loss of 25 lives and injuries to 15 others
At least 25 lives were lost, and 15 individuals sustained serious injuries in a petrol tanker fire on Tuesday in Kwara State. The incident occurred following an accident at Peke village along the Oko-Olowo area on the Ilorin/Bode-Saadu/Jebba express road. It involved a petrol tanker with registration number JJN 17 XW, a heavy-duty truck, and an 18-seater bus.
According to eyewitnesses, the petrol tanker, traveling from Niger State, was driving on the wrong side of the road, leading to a head-on collision with a heavy-duty truck from Lagos State.
It was additionally learned that the collision sparked a fire that quickly engulfed both vehicles and also impacted the 18-seater bus, which was also traveling from Lagos.
Mr. Stephen Dawulung, the Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps, verified the accident to our correspondent on Wednesday, assuring that he would furnish the details later.
He mentioned that certain relatives had interred some of the bodies recovered from the scene.
The incident was also verified by Mr. John Falade, the Kwara State Director of Fire Service, who reported that firefighters responded to a fire at the village at approximately 3:18 p.m. on Tuesday.
"On November 28, 2023, around 15:18 hours, the Kwara State Fire Service promptly attended to a fire at Peke village along Oko-Olowo Bode-Saadu Expressway in Moro Local Government Area, Kwara State.
"The firefighters diligently worked to extinguish the inferno, but regrettably, 25 lives were lost, and approximately 15 individuals were rescued with injuries," he stated.
Falade expressed deep sorrow over the incident that claimed many lives and emphasized the need for road users to prioritize safe driving practices.
He also cautioned drivers and other road users to consistently adhere to safety measures when driving on the roads.
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