5 feared dead, 8 injured as tanker fire razes 23 shops 9 vehicles in Anambra

Nkiru Nwagbo, Awka

About five persons have died, eight persons injured when a tanker carrying petroleum products lost control and rammed into the Amawbia round about of Anambra state and crashed. As at the time of this report a team of fire fighters were still battling to put off the fire while more buildings are still being burnt. Also affected is the premises of the Anambra state Fire Service as well as the security post of the Anambra state Governor’s lodge in Amawbia. An eye withness account has it that the forty feet tanker carrying desel cruised from Amawbia by pass and tried to negotiate the roundabout connecting the Zik avenue when it fell down and it ignitied fire. At the scene also officers and men of Anambra police command were deployed to ensure that hoodlums do not capitalize on the situation to loot people’s property Speaking with reporters yesterday the leader of the Hausa community in Amawbia whose subjects were badly affected by the fire Alhaji Mamood Sani confirmed that five of his subjects die in the fire while one person is missing. “The incident happened in front of our resident where we do business and most of them sell suya and food items. Some sell other goods. We have been there for decades in Amawbia. “We were lucky to have evacuated woman and children so it only affected our men. “As I speak to you five persons have died and one person is missing. Those injured are at Nwarusi private hospital and others are at Amaku general hospital and Regina Celia hospital in Awka.’ Sani said that what was lost to the fire incident is about N6 million including property and goods belonging to the trades. He appealed to the state government and public spirited individuals to come to their assistance. I a sharp response to the incident, Gov Willie Obiano has announced that the state government will offset the hospital bills of those in the hospital adding that people whose property were burnt by the incident would be compensated. “What happened is unfortunate and it is calamitous. We pray God to grant those who lost their lives eternal rest and for those in the hospital we shall off set their medical bills and also compensate those whose business were affected by the fire. Mean while the tanker driver who lost control of the vehicle is nowhere to be found as according to security operatives. “When the head of the tanker disengaged from the vehicle he was shouting that the vehicle will go on fire and we stopped him from escaping. “But when the tanker exploded and the the fire started we had to help and save the situation and I think that was when he ran away.