A tanker explosion along the Warri-Benin Highway in Delta State’s Warri North Local Government Area was alleged to have killed at least 20 people.
According to sources, the tragedy occurred in the early hours of Sunday as a consequence of a spark from a malfunctioning vehicle when the individuals were scooping fuel that had spilled from the truck.
It was learned that among the dead were a pregnant woman, children, and some elderly persons.
An eye witness, who preferred anonymity, said the tanker fell and spilled its contents on the road and some persons rushed to scoop fuel despite being warned by drivers and security men who had stormed the scene after they learnt the tanker had fallen.
“We tried to prevent them but the youths threatened to beat us up telling us it’s their community. They came in their numbers carrying all sorts of containers and when the explosion happened around 12:15 am this morning we all fled.
“You can see dead bodies on the ground, some of them ran into the forest as I speak some dead bodies have been removed, I counted over 20 bodies” the eye witness who called his name Yusuf said.
When Vanguard visited the scene, some dead bodies burnt beyond recognition were seen on the ground, while burnt vehicles including the exploded tanker.