An unknown tanker suspected to be carrying diesel this Wednesday afternoon failed and exploded at Abakaliki/Enugu express way in Ebonyi state.
The tanker which was said to have been coming from Enugu axis of the road, suddenly climbed the pavement between the highway and fell.
However the driver and the conductor of the vehicle were said to be safe as they jumped out before the tanker cut fire.
An eye witness who spoke to Blueprint Correspondent anonymously said: “I saw the tanker coming but it suddenly climbed the pavement on the road and fell and the next thing I saw was two men that jumped out of the vehicle and ran away before the fire started.”
Another eyewitness who work with a Vigilante office located within the area of the incident told Blueprint that the tanker allegedly conveying diesel lost brake and veered off the road, before it finally landed and exploded.
According to the eyewitness account: “two motorcycle operators were driving closely to the tanker, but were fortunate not to be caught by the fire, while the driver and the conductor immediately escaped.
“The tanker was coming from Enugu state, plying along the Abakaliki-Enugu Expressway. When the vehicle got to this T-junction, some of the tires rode on the pavement on the road. It was at this point that the tanker turned.
“We tried calling the fire service people, but it took time for them to come. We thanked God that there was no vehicle following the fuel tanker.
“It is very fortunate that the two motorcycles that were following them were very lucky. We were in the office when we heard a big bang. I thought it was an accident, but when I came out, I saw fire coming out of the tanker.
“Before, I knew what was happening, I told my people to run away because this is fuel. The fire was so heavy. The heat was too much. Everybody here ran away.
“It was the fire that destroyed the billboard there, and also burnt these grasses and trees.”
As at the time of filling this report, Men from the Nigeria Fire Service were seen battling the fire.
