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A fuel-laden tanker carrying over 45,000 litres of petroleum product crashed on Sunday morning along the Calabar-Odukpani highway.
The tanker reportedly lost its brakes near a speed bump opposite the Odukpani Local Government headquarters, overturned and spilled its contents, triggering a fire that razed vehicles, houses and shops in the area.
The inferno escalated further when the fuel spilled into an electricity transformer and onto a truck parked in the vicinity.
As of press time, the fire was still raging and the extent of damage had yet to be ascertained. It is unclear how many persons were affected inside the shops and buildings gutted by the inferno.
Confirming the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer, Cross River State Command, [Insert Name], said the Command was aware of the fire incident opposite the Odukpani Secretariat.
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According to him, “Preliminary information indicates that a tanker truck conveying petroleum product was involved in a road traffic accident and overturned, resulting in the fire which has spread to nearby shops and buildings.”
He added: “The driver of the tanker, who was reportedly caught in the fire, has been rescued and taken to a hospital for medical attention. Police officers from Odukpani Division are currently at the scene to maintain safety and secure the area. The Fire Service has also been alerted for immediate deployment.”
He said no death has been confirmed, but a number of shops and vehicles were affected.
The Command urged members of the public to stay away from the area to allow emergency responders unhindered access.
