Eight persons have been confirmed dead while scooping fuel after a petrol-laden tanker fell and spilled its content along the Ore-Benin Expressway, Ore in Odigbo Local Government Area of Ondo State.
While many were reported to have died from the Sunday evening incident, the Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Ondo State, Ezekiel Son-Allah, on Monday said eight persons were burnt to death following the explosion.
He said the white fuel tanker with no registration number lost control and crashed.
Son-Allah noted that following the development, some residents of the close by village stormed the scene and started scooping fuel spilled from the fallen tanker.
According to him, unfortunately, the tanker exploded, burning eight persons who were scooping fuel to death.
A witness who craved anonymity said the explosion was triggered by a spark from the phone of one of the persons who went to scoop the fuel.
“We were inside the church when we heard that tanker fell. The rain was also falling. People were taking fuel when fire started after a spark from a phone,” the witness said.
Son-Allah said the FRSC rescue team has deposited the remains of the victims at the morgue of the General Hospital in Ore.