At least three persons have been confirmed dead in a tragic tanker explosion in Port Harcourt, Rivers State on Tuesday morning at the Obiri-Ikwerre area of Obio/Akpor LGA.
It was gathered that a truck conveying gas cylinders had fallen on the Obiri-Ikwerre interchange and burst into flames.
Eye witnesses said when the fire started, three of the cylinders exploded creating panic and worsening the fire.
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It was learnt that residents of Rumuosi and Ozuoba in the LGA, were rattled with unusual sounds which many mistook for dynamite or strong explosives.
The tanker, believed to be carrying many cylinders of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), overturned and exploded while attempting to navigate the roundabout at the said interchange along the East-West Road.
Sources said the fire caused by the explosion spread to a salon car with a passenger, adding that many persons were burnt and three people have died.
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Firefighters who arrived at the scene to put out the raging fire cordoned off the section of the road where the incident happened with police and other sister agencies helping to divert traffic.
The source, who did not want his name in print, said the driver of the truck narrowly escaped harm, fleeing the scene just moments before the explosion.
The Public Relations Officer of the State Police Command, Grace Iringe-Koko, a Superintendent of Police, confirmed that three people died in the incident.
