Several people were feared dead following the explosion of a Compressed Natural Gas tanker near Karu Bridge in Abuja on Wednesday evening.
A video obtained by journalists captured a voice urgently calling for help, reporting that the CNG tanker had exploded and that trapped motorists were burning.
Witnesses said the truck lost control near the Karu Bridge, situated between Kugbo and Nyanya on the Abuja-Keffi Expressway.
The Federal Capital Territory Emergency Management Department confirmed the incident, stating that the explosion occurred at around 7:14 pm on Wednesday.
In a statement signed by FEMD’s Head of Public Affairs, Nkechi Isa, the Head of Forecasting Response and Mitigation, Mark Nyam, explained that the accident occurred when the driver of the CNG truck lost control and collided with other vehicles, leading to the explosion.
The statement read, “A ghastly motor accident has occurred at the Karu bridge between Kugbo and Nyanya in the FCT. The accident, which occurred at about 7.14 this evening, involved a Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) truck and other vehicles.
“According to the Head of Forecasting Response and Mitigation division of FEMA, Mr Mark Nyam, the accident occurred when the driver of the CNG truck lost control on the bridge there by running into other motorists and leading to an explosion.”
He noted that the search and rescue teams of the FEMD, the Federal Fire Service, the FCT Fire Service, the Nigeria Police Force, and the National Emergency Management Agency, were on the ground to rescue the casualties.
Rainstorm destroys Ogun school, kills student, injures others
In a related development, a rainstorm on Wednesday destroyed classrooms of Mayigi Community Comprehensive High School, Ilase, in Ipokia Local Government of Ogun State, killing a 14-year-old Junior Secondary School Three student, Timothy Amosun.
Five other learners, two teachers, as well as the school food vendor and her seven-month-old child, were reportedly injured during the tragic incident.
The Special Adviser to Governor Dapo Abiodun on Information and Strategy, Kayode Akinmade, disclosed this in a statement sent to journalists on Wednesday.
Governor Abiodun has, however, described this sad news as very shocking and pathetic, expressing his deep sorrow over the loss of life while conveying his condolences to the family of the late students.
The Governor said that the government would also be responsible for the medical bills of the injured, adding that he had directed concerned agencies to move the victims who are in critical condition to specialist hospitals within and outside the state, where they are currently receiving maximum medical attention.
The statement partly reads, “The Governor of Ogun State, Dapo Abiodun, has commiserated with the victims of a rainstorm that destroyed the classrooms of Mayigi Community Comprehensive High School, Ilase, in the Ipokia Local Government Area of the state.
“A 14-year-old Junior Secondary School Three learner, Timothy Amosun, died in the incident, while five other learners, two teachers, a food vendor, and her seven-month-old child were injured.
“Governor Abiodun described the incident as a rude shock and very pathetic to bear, praying to God to give the family of the deceased the fortitude to bear the irreplaceable loss.
“The Governor said the government would be responsible for the medical bills of the injured, adding that he had directed concerned agencies to move the victims who are in critical condition to specialist hospitals within and outside the state, where they are currently receiving maximum medical attention.
“He also stated that he has directed the Commissioner for Education to visit the families of the victims and the school to take inventory of what needs to be done to rebuild the damaged school.”