Pregnant woman, three children, others burnt to death in Ondo tanker explosion

“Three children died, and we have counted over 15 bodies. A pregnant woman that wanted to buy the fuel also died. The money is still with her.”

Tosin Ajuwon • July 24, 2023

Tanker on fire used to illustrate the story [Photo credit: Guardian Nigeria]

A tanker laden with fuel exploded Sunday evening, claiming multiple lives at Ore in Odigbo LGA, Ondo.

A pregnant woman and three children were burnt to death in the tanker explosion.

Peoples Gazette learnt Monday that the tanker driver lost control of the vehicle and crashed. People nearby the crash scene to the petrol tanker to scoop fuel its content.

Bola Adeyemo, a witness of the fatal incident, told The Gazette that the tanker spilt its content after the crash. She explained that a mobile phone held by one of the people who rushed to scoop the fuel caused a spark that snowballed into an explosion.

The explosion happened a few metres away from the Showboy area.

Mrs Adeyemo said the police and the FRSC evacuated the victims.

“Three children died, and we have counted over 15 bodies. A pregnant woman that wanted to buy the fuel also died. The money is still with her,” she added.

Ezekiel SonAllah, the sector commander of the FRSC, who confirmed the incident, told The Gazette that the agency would provide details of the accident later.

The police spokeswoman in Ondo, Funmilayo Odunlami-Omisanya, said she could not give details of the casualties involved in the petrol tanker explosion.

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