One Killed in Petrol Tanker Explosion
From Efem Nkanga in Uyo
Less than a month after a petrol tanker ran into a house and exploded in Ndon Ebom in Akwa Ibom State wiping out an entire family of seven, another petrol tanker has replicated the same incident, killing one person and leaving five others, all members of the same family in a critical condition.
THISDAY gathered that like the former tragedy at Ndon Ebom, this took place in the night at about 11pm when the occupants were fast aslept. The tanker was said to be carrying fuel supply to an unknown destination when it ran into a bad portion of the Enwang/Ibaka road in Mbo Local Government area and in the process of negotiating his way it ran into a house and burst into flames.
The tragedy destroyed property worth millions, leaving two houses, cables and electric poles that supply light to the area burnt while the tanker driver and his assistant waere said to be on the run.
The victims of the tragedy members of the Etteh family were said to be receiving treatment at the General Hospital in Oron, two are said to be in very critical condition while one of them died in the tragedy.
According to THISDAY sources the deplorable portion of the road that led to this tragedy has been there for some time even though it's currently under rehabilitation by the Mbo Local Govern-ment council in conjunction with Federal Ministry of works. Last year, a petrol tanker on that same road lost control and claimed several lives and leaving properties worth millions destroyed.
The council chairman ,Prince Alex Nyong, described the incident as unfortunate and regrettable.
He decried the lack of quick response by men of the fire service which compounded the whole incident.
According to him, the fire service did not quickly respond to the distress callof the people due to lack of manpower.
Prince Nyong called on the Government to equip the fire service with necessary equipment and personnel to guarantee quick response to future distress calls.
He also charged fuel tanker drivers to stop plying the Enwang/Ibaka road until the rehabilitation work is completed.He also called on the Federal and state government to come to the aid of the victims through the provision of relief materials to ameliorate the effects of the tragedy.He also sought the assistance of the government in the speedy rehabilitation of the road to put a stop to further carnage via a recurrence of such a tragedy in future.
Prince Nyong on behalf of the council also provided an undisclosed amount and some relief materials to the victims of the tragedy.
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