From Our Correspondent in Ore
A pregnant woman, three children and 16 others are feared dead on Sunday evening when a petrol-laden tanker exploded at Ore in Odigbo Local government area of Ondo State.
But officials of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) said eight persons were burnt to death following the explosion.
An eyewitness said a spark from a phone, ignited the fire which caused the explosion.
The NewsZenith reports that the incident occurred along Showboy road, opposite Optima filling station in Ore.
Ouer correspondent gathered that the owner of the hand-set was among those allegedly scooping petrol from the faulty thanker when the explosion occoured.
An unconfirmed claimed said the pregnant woman had brought N100,000 to buy fuel before the spark unfortunately ignited the fire.
Police spokeswoman in Ondo, SP Funmilayo Odunlami-Omisanya, confirmed the incident but added that she had yet to get details.
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Meanwhile, the Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in the state, Ezekiel Son-Allah, said the tanker lost control and fell due to overspeeding.
According to him, following the development, some residents stormed the scene and started scooping fuel from the tanker.
“Unfortunately, the tanker exploded, burning eight persons, who were scooping fuel to death,” Son-Allah said.
He added that the tanker driver and his assistant managed to escape from the scene unhurt.
“FRSC rescue team had deposited the remains of the victims at the morgue of the General Hospital in Ore.”
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