Rivers State: Update – FRSC recovers 80 bodies from site of tanker explosion

The Federal Road Safety Commission said on Thursday it had recovered 80 bodies from the area where a tanker burst into flames at Okobie, Rivers State.

FRSC Sector Commander for Rivers State, Kayode Olagunju, said the bodies were recovered as at 11.45a.m at the village, 11 kilometres from Ahoada-Mbiama, in Ahoada West Local Government Area.
According to him, four vehicles, including the tanker, were involved in a crash early on Thursday, but the tanker caught fire when the people rushed for “free fuel.”
He said, “People were scooping fuel from the tanker when it exploded, casualty figures definitely high, and about 20 injured persons already taken to the hospitals.
“Thirty-four motor-cycles also got burnt,” he added.

Our Previous report:

Over 20 people are feared to have died after a tanker exploded in Okogbe town in Ahoada East Local Government Area of Rivers State this on Thursday morning.
The fuel tanker was reported to have broken down overnight on a road in the area and was gushing fuel.
A large crowd of people reportedly gathered around the tanker, scooping fuel leaking from the tanker. According to an eyewitness, while the scooping of fuel was on, the tanker exploded.

The fire that broke out from the explosion consumed scores of persons at the spot.

The spokesman of the Rivers State police command, Ben Ugwuegbulam, who confirmed the incidence, said that “early this morning a tanker loaded with petrol fell in Okogbe and people trooped to the scene obviously to scoop the spilled fuel and suddenly there was fire resulting in casualties.”

He said it was too early to give a casualty figure.