Six die in Port Harcourt tanker fire

Posted by admin Rivers, State News Saturday, March 17th, 2012

• The smouldering tanker at the scene of the fire disaster at Igwuruta junction, Port Harcourt , yesterday

• 25 houses, four vehicles also burnt • Six fire fighters attacked, hospitalised

A family of four -father, mother, and two children- was burnt to death at their Port Harcourt residence yesterday in an early morning petrol tanker explosion.

Two other persons were similarly burnt after the petrol tanker fell on its side at Igwuruta Roundabout on the Port Harcourt International Airport road and burst into flame.

Several other persons were injured and rushed to the hospital.

Over 25 houses and four vehicles were burnt in the disaster.

Six fire fighters and two of their vehicles were attacked by an irate mob on the grounds that they arrived the scene late.

The fire fighters are said to be on the danger list in the hospital.

The tanker driver and his conductor were reported to have also been injured.

The tanker, according to sources, unexpectedly fell on its side and spilled its content which immediately caught fire. Time was about 4.30am when most people were still in bed.

The fire quickly spread to nearby houses trapping the occupants.

The victims were badly burnt. Only the bones of the family of four were found on what remained of their bed.

The newly-posted Police Commissioner, to Rivers State, Mohammed Indabawa visited the scene to personally assess the situation. He gave the casualty figure as six and described the accident as very unfortunate.

The State Commissioner for Special Duties, Emeka Worgu, and Chairman of Ikwerre LGA, Welendu Amadi sympathised with the residents and promised government’s assistance for the injured and the displaced

They, however, condemned the attack on the fire fighters.

“This is a sad incident. Attack on fire fighters and destruction of their vehicles are very unfortunate,” Mr. Worgu said while Mr. Amadi declared: “I am so disappointed about the attitude of persons who decided to take the law into their own hands by attacking the fire fighters, who were on duty. Government will assist the injured and displaced persons. The incident is very sad.”

The incident triggered a traffic chaos on the road leaving many travellers who had flights out of the city, stranded

The road was only cleared at about 10am after policemen and soldiers were deployed there to bring the situation under control. An witness, who simply gave his name as Uche, said if the fire fighters had arrived much earlier, the casualty figure and destruction of valuable property would have been minimal

-The Nationwp_posts