By Patrick Ahanor
Benin City
A devastating petrol tanker fire on the Benin-Auchi expressway by Upper Mission Junction in Edo state has reportedly left one person dead.
Three other persons were said to have been severely burnt in the inferno, while six vehicles parked within the vicinity were also affected.
Some shops in the area were also torched by the rampaging fire.
An eyewitness claimed that the incident occurred after a truck conveying petrol fell on the expressway.
According to the witness, after the truck had fallen, some drivers and passers-by began to scoop fuel spilling from the tanker.
An explosion was, however, said to have occurred in the process when a driver of an Audi car, drove into the area of the spilling petrol while trying to maneuver his way through the traffic jam.
The witness, who further blamed the tragedy on the deplorable condition of the express road, appealed to the government to expedite action on the highway.
Director of Edo state Fire Service, Mr. Franklin Agbonlahor, who spoke at the scene of the accident, said the explosion was extinguished shortly after his team received a distress call at about 8:30am.
He said the Audi car driver refused to heed to instructions when he was flagged down.
“The story is positive; the fire was brought under control. A vehicle defied instructions of people that were flagging vehicles down when this happened. Immediately he came across the tanker, fire was ignited,” he said.