Economic Activities Came To A Stand Still As Tanker Explosion Was Averted

A tanker explosion was averted at the popular Wetheral Road, Owerri, the Imo State capital when a tanker laden with premium motor spirit (PM’s) skidded over a road demarcation and split its contents in the heart of the state capital.

The incident, which created panic in the axis, forced banks, shops and business outlets to shut down as the road was cordoned off by security agents.

The disaster was averted by the prompt response of emergency responders. The incident occurred at about 8:00 p.m. and subsequently led to severe traffic gridlock.

As a result of the accident, road users were urged to avoid the area and make use of alternative routes to get to their destinations.

According to eyewitness accounts, the accident happened when the driver allegedly slept off on the wheel and skidded into the road demarcation near the road leading to Ikenegbu Girls College.

The Director of the Imo State Fire Service, Mr. Japhet Okoroafor, who confirmed the incident, said the situation was, however, brought under control in collaboration with men of the other emergency responders in the state.

“The agency received a distress call at about 8pm on Tuesday and activated a response team to the accident scene. Upon the arrival of the agency’s response team at the scene, it was observed that there was an accident involving a Mack tanker loaded with 50,000 litres of petroleum products.

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“Investigation conducted revealed that the tanker lost control and jumped over the road media. The subsequent impact led to the tanker loaded with petroleum splitting its contents on the road. No casualty was recorded. The state fire service on arrival blanketed the affected areas in order to forestall the occurrence of any secondary accident as some”.

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