Burning fuel tanker claims 2 lives, destroys property worth millions in Ibadan (video)

Tragedy struck at the popular Moniya motor park in the capital of Oyo State, Ibadan, when two persons were reported to have lost their lives after a fuel-laden tanker went up in flames.

The incident which occurred on Friday left several shops and vehicles worth millions of naira completely razed by the fire as traders, commuters, and residents of the area were seen scampering for safety from the raging inferno.

According to an eyewitness, Tunde Adedayo, the incident happened when the tanker skidded off the road. He also said that it took men of the Oyo State Fire Service 35 minutes to arrive at the scene after the fire started.

Adedayo said: “There was a loud blast which was followed immediately by a huge ball of fire with a thick cloud of smoke. It kept touching everything on its way. A fuel tanker had skidded and people started running up and down. There was confusion everywhere and people were crying for help.”

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“No one could move near the fire. Everybody was scrambling for safety,” he said.

However, Chief Fire Officer, Oyo State Fire Service, Mr. Adewuyi Moshood, said his men arrived at the scene in good time considering the distance they needed to cover to get to the spot.

Adewuyi said: “The fire started when a fully laden fuel tanker lost control while descending the slope beside a filling station at Moniya. There was brake failure and the vehicle crushed a vehicle going to Ogbomoso.”

“One passenger, who was trapped in the vehicle got burnt. One other life was lost but we are yet to determine the number of casualties in the incidence,” he explained.

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