Follow Us on Google
From Jude Chinedu, Enugu
The death toll from Saturday’s tanker explosion at the Ugwu-Onyeama axis of the Enugu-Onitsha Expressway has risen to 21, according to the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC).
The Enugu State FRSC Sector Commander, Franklin Agbakoba, confirmed on Tuesday that three more victims, two men and a woman, died in the hospital due to severe burns.
The incident, which occurred around 11:30 a.m. on January 25, was caused by brake failure in a fuel-laden tanker, leading to a crash and subsequent explosion.
Eleven road users were killed instantly before emergency responders arrived. FRSC officials later evacuated the deceased after firefighters from the Enugu State Fire Service extinguished the blaze, while the injured were rushed to various hospitals.
Other News
Agbakoba revealed that a harmonized report showed the accident involved 44 people, 16 vehicles (both private and commercial), and a tricycle. Among the casualties, 23 individuals, eight men and 15 women, sustained injuries.
The injured were taken to ESUTH Teaching Hospital, Parklane; the National Orthopedic Hospital, Enugu; and the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH), Ituku-Ozalla.
So far, nine victims (three men and six women) have been discharged, while 11 others (three men and eight women) remain hospitalized.
He further disclosed that traffic has been diverted to the Enugu-bound lane of the busy expressway, with ongoing efforts to clear burnt vehicles from the scene.
