TWO persons were feared dead, while several others were injured in a fuel tanker accident at the International Building Materials Market, Ogidi in Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State Sunday night.

No fewer than 14 buses and other property worth millions of naira were also burnt in the fire incident.

An eye witness said the accident happened when an articulated lorry rammed into a stationary tanker laden with fuel and both caught fire.

“Several luxury buses parked around the area immediately went up in flames. Shops and buildings within the vicinity also caught fire and so much damage had been done before the arrival of the men of the state fire service,” the eye witness said.

The state Chief Fire Officer, Mr. Martin Agbili, confirmed that two people lost their lives, while 14 buses and other property, including houses, were burnt.

He said the fire could have escalated to other parts of the heavily built-up area if not for the prompt arrival of firemen and assistance from other fire stations, including the one inside the market.

The Anambra State police command has already cordoned off the area to prevent hoodlums from taking advantage of the fire to loot people’s property in the area.

Meanwhile, Emeka Obinwa, an official of Anambra State Emergency Management Agency, SEMA, confirmed the incident to the News Agency of Nigeria on Monday in Awka.

Mr Obinwa said that the unfortunate incident occurred at about 4pm on Sunday, August 15, adding that the fire caused panic in the area as residents and motorists scampered for safety.

He said that a preliminary finding by SEMA revealed that a tanker ladened with petroleum product parked by the roadside was rammed by a trailer resulting to leakage of the product which later got ignited.

According to him, some residents were scooping the product inside drainage channels when the fire which eventually caused the havoc started.

He said that one life lost was yet to be identified due to the inferno while 13 Luxurious buses belonging to a mass transit company were razed.

He, however, said that security agents were mobilized and the entire area cordoned off to avoid hoodlums taking advantage of the situation to loot property.

Mr Obinwa, Executive Assistant Media to Gov. Willie Obiano on SEMA disclosed that five fire trucks were immediately deployed to the scene as soon as the agency was contacted.

He regretted that some residents of the area were scooping the product before the fire started regardless of several warnings by the authorities. NAN

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