Seven people have lost their lives with several injured in a petrol tanker fire on Saturday night in Awka, Anambra S
The tanker fell at Amawbia Roundabout and went up in flames immediately.
At least eight vehicles and several residential buildings were consumed in the inferno which occurred close to the Amawbia Fire Service, the Police Headquarters, and the Governor’s Lodge.
Sources say that the governor, Willie Obiano, was at the lodge when the fire began.
An eyewitness who spoke to NAN, Paul Igwemma, said the tanker was negotiating a bend at the roundabout when it fell and subsequently burst into flames.
Mr Igwemma said he had to abandon his vehicle and ran for his dear life.
“I saw the vehicle trying to negotiate to this direction and all of a sudden the tank fell and hit the pavement of the roundabout so I immediately ran out of my car.
“Few seconds after, there was an explosion accompanied by fire and as you can see, my car is burnt beyond recognition, together with about ten other vehicles,” he said.
Anambra Police spokesman, Haruna Mohammed, said: “So far, a total number of seven corpses were certified dead at various hospitals by medical doctors while the only surviving victim was referred to the University Teaching hospital Nnewi and was admitted at the intensive care unit of the hospital.
“Consequently, out of the seven corpses confirmed dead, three are deposited at Amaku General Hospital Morgue, two at Regina Caeli Hospital and another two at Piston Hospital Morgue for postmortem examination.”
