3 dead as tanker explodes in Rivers

The Police Command in Rivers says three persons lost their lives in a fuel tanker explosion that took place in the state on Tuesday.

The tragic incident occurred when a petrol-laden tanker veered off the road, colliding with a taxi and bursting into flames at the Obiri Ikwerre flyover section of the East-West Road around 9:00 a.m on Tuesday.

SP Grace Iringe-Koko, spokesperson of the command, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Port Harcourt that the car’s occupants were severely burnt and that they could not be identified.

“I can confirm that three persons perished after a tanker carrying petrol fell on a commercial vehicle at the Obiri Ikwerre flyover stretch of the East-West Road.

“The Fire Service has successfully put out the fire, but the area has been cordoned off due to ongoing petrol leakage from the tanker.

“The Commissioner of Police, Tunji Disu, and I were on the ground earlier to assess the situation,” she said.

Iringe-Koko added that traffic has been diverted from the flyover to alternative routes to prevent further casualties.