No fewer than four people were burnt to death following a multiple explosion at the Eleme section of the East-West Road in Rivers State on Friday night.
It was gathered that a tanker laden with petroleum products exploded and busted into flames, affecting other vehicles in the area which is known for its gridlock.
The incident started at about 9:15pm adjacent to the Indorama Petrochemical Company located along the Akpojo-Onne axis of the East-West Road leading to some critical national assets.
A source living in Akpajo, Eleme LGA said he heard a deafening sound twice from his residence with accompanying voices suggesting something sinister.
The source said, “I heard a very loud sound about 20 minutes ago, and people were shouting.
“The sound came from the Petro-Chemical company area. So when I came out I saw a tick smoke with fire from a distance.”
A Port Harcourt-based broadcast Journalist, Segun Owolabi, who gave a live update from the scene aired on his company’s Radio Station, painted a gory picture, saying he counted four bodies burnt.
Owolabi stated, “I saw four bodies burnt. Some may have been in the bushes because many ran away. I saw a whole stretch of vehicles burnt down, trailer burnt down.”
On what may have caused the inferno which he said was still raging, he said, “There seems to be a truck carrying substances and it was as if it had a collision with another vehicle that may have ignited the fire. Over 20 vehicles burnt down and several people were trapped.
“There may be more bodies. Oh my God, this is a tragedy. A stretch of vehicles burnt,” he stated.
He however said three fire-fighting trucks from the Indorama Petrochemical company had arrived at the scene and were trying to put out the fire which was still raging.
Mr Owolabi said the fire was still raging as of the time he left with thick smoke billowing into the atmosphere.
Following the incident, it was gathered that hundreds of travellers and passengers were stranded as the road leads to Akwa Ibom, Cross River and others.
When contacted, the spokesperson of the state police command, Grace Iringe-Koko, said though she had yet to get a situation report on the incident, she would find out and revert.
She had yet to do so as of the time of filing this report.
