No fewer than five persons were have been declared dead following a multiple explosion at the Eleme section of the East-West Road in Rivers State on Friday night.
70 cars were reportedly burnt as the ensuing inferno engulfed several other vehicles along the road, with some occupants said to be trapped and unable to escape the rapidly spreading flames.
According to eyewitness Segun Owolabi, who was cited by The Nation, one tanker struck a car before catching fire, creating a cascading effect.
“I saw four dead bodies burnt. Some may have been in the bushes because many ran away. I saw a whole stretch of vehicles burnt down, trailers burnt down,” Owolabi said.
“There seems to be a truck carrying substances and it was as if it had collided with another vehicle that may have ignited the fire. Over 20 vehicles burnt down and several people trapped.
“There may be more bodies. Oh my God this is a tragedy. A stretch of vehicles burnt.”
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