The Delta State Police Command says five persons died with properties comprising eight buses, two tankers, five trailers, two cars, and one motorcycle burnt totally in an early Sunday blaze.
The accident occurred on Sunday when a tanker carrying PMS was heading towards Benin along the Warri-Benin Road crashed, spilling its contents into a nearby marsh.
According to the command’s spokesman, Bright Edafe, the spilled drew teenagers who began scooping the petroleum into jerry cans and other containers. While they were at it, an explosion happened and a fire enveloped the area, according to him.
Meanwhile, Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori has expressed his sympathies to the families of those killed in the blast.
Governor Sheriff expressed his condolences to the victims’ families in a statement sent by his Chief Press Secretary, Festus Ahon, in Asaba. He said that the State had gone out to assist the victims.
Governor Oborevwori blamed the terrible tragedy on the poor condition of federal roads, once again urging the Federal Government to move quickly to replace failed sections of the road.