An unspecified number of people on Saturday, tragically lost their lives in a fuel tanker explosion that occurred in Ugwu Onyeama, located in the Udi Local Government Area of Enugu State, just a few kilometres from the Enugu metropolis.
Although some reports have suggested that the number of casualties is around 18, the actual number is yet to be confirmed as emergency responders and other authorities have released no statement to that effect.
The explosion was caused by a tanker laden with petrol which caught fire on the business road, thereby affecting the vehicles which were close by.
Eyewitnesses revealed that the effects of the explosion were extremely devastating, as it destroyed many nearby vehicles and killed many persons, especially those trapped in the vehicles as the intensity of the fire made it difficult for rescuers to succeed in evacuating them. The victims were reportedly burnt beyond recognition.
The Police and road safety authorities were yet to confirm the number of casualties or the cause of the explosion, at the time of filing this report.
The incident comes a few days after the devastating fuel tanker explosion that claimed over 86 lives in Niger Delta.
The federal government in response to the tragic tanker explosions which have claimed over 265 lives since September 2024, had on 18th January 2025, set up a high-powered committee mandated to halt a reoccurrence of such accidents. Just barely a week after the panel was set up, the incident repeated in Enugu, claiming an unspecified number of lives.
