No fewer than 69 persons were burnt to death Sunday evening when a trailer loaded with Premium Motor Spirit, otherwise known as petrol, that was descending from the Army barracks side of Onitsha-Enugu Expressway lost control and rammed into the Asaba Motor Park at Upper Iweka, Onitsha and exploded.
Eleven vehicles, mostly commuter buses, and two motorcycles inside the Asaba Park, Onitsha, including the 40 foot tanker laden with petrol, were burnt beyond repairs inside the park.
Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra State wept on seeing the number casualties when he visited the scene of the accident.
Obiano told the relations of the victims to take heart and promised that the state will help in ensuring that the living victims are well taken care of.
The Nigerian Red Cross Society officials were the first to arrive at the scene of the accident.
According to its Chairman, Prof. Peter Emeka Kathy: “We have 69 burnt to death persons as at now.
“There are other 30 casualties.
“A casualty is a living person.
“A dead person is no longer a casualty.
“So 69 persons are dead and they have been evaluated to various mortuaries in Onitsha, from Toronto to St. Charles Boromneo Mortuaries and others in town.”
Vanguard.
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