Two Die As Fuel Tanker Explodes In Calabar

Two persons were on Wednesday killed following an explosion that
occurred after a tanker laden with petrol exploded close to the
Eburutu Army Barracks end of the Murtala Mohammed Highway in Calabar.

The incident, which happened at about 1.30pm, left pedestrians,
commuters and transporters stranded for several hours as the intensity
of the inferno, which had spread to nearby buildings, slowed down
movements in and out of the Cross River State capital.

PUNCH identified the two dead victims to be the driver and conductor
of the fuel laden tanker. The driver was burnt to ashes on his seat,
while the conductor was flung out of the vehicle.

No fewer than 3000 persons gathered helplessly to watch the inferno
before the arrival of firefighting trucks 40 minutes after the
accident had occurred. Two buildings and two vehicles (Audi 80 and
Peugeot 505) were also consumed by the fire.

It took the joint intervention of fire services from the Cross River
State Government, Calabar Free Trade Zone and Nigeria Ports Authority,
to put off the inferno which lasted for over two hours.

An eyewitness, Pastor Godwin Nsa, said the petrol-laden tanker driver
tried to overtake that loaded with diesel at a tight end of the road
when the accident happened.

He blamed the dead driver for not being cautious at that point.

"A tanker loaded with petrol tried to overtake another with diesel,
unfortunately the former hit the latter from behind and both skidded
off the road and their tankers fell. Immediately, the petrol tanker
exploded and the driver, his conducted died on the spot," Nsa
narrated.

Another eyewitness, Mr. Evans Bishop, said the accident happened when
the two trailers were trying to avoid several parked trucks owned by a
transport company that obstructed the free flow of traffic.

Bishop said in the process of overtaking along the tight end of the
road, both trailers loaded with petroleum product collided, adding
that this resulted in explosion which instantly killed the driver and
his conductor.

He said, "I came out the moment it happened and I have been around for
over an hour watching from a distance. A transport company has a
terminal close to 'My Peoples Club' and they line up the trucks along
the road. This had been the cause of the traffic snarl around this
end.

"Government ought to have done something about the parking arrangement
all these while. It is not right to park on the highway. Other road
users should be free to use the road."

A fire fighter from NPA, who pleaded anonymity, said they responded
immediately they got the signal.

No fewer than 12 fire fighting trucks were deployed to put off the inferno.