15 October 2026 3:49 pm WAT
From Tony Osauzo, Benin
Ten persons who suffered severe burns following a tanker explosion in Oluku in Ovia North-East Local Government Area of Edo State have been rushed to the University of Benin Teaching Hospital for medical attention.
The tanker was said to have fallen in the morning and residents went to scoop fuel, which later led to the explosion of the tanker at about 1 pm.
An eyewitness account said the fuel that leaked from the tanker found its way into the drainages where stores were erected at the Oluku market.
The source said as soon as the fire began due to scooping of the fuel, stores within the market were also affected as well as vehicles that drove against traffic.
“I was also among those who were scooping the fuel. I escaped by a whisker. It was a soldier who called me and drew my attention to the fact that it was sunny and the way the people rushed to scoop the fuel might ignite fire.
“As I looked back after he spoke to me, the tanker burst into flames as people around the area ran for dear life. I thank the soldier, if not I would have been burnt by now.
“Two men from the northern part of the country who were directly under the tanker were burnt while stores that were built on the drainage were burnt. Stores were also burnt down as we are yet to know the number of people that died. However, 10 people were rushed to the emergency unit of the UBTH,” the source said.
At the UBTH, the management swiftly mobilised emergency services to attend to victims who were brought to the hospital.
Chief Medical Director of UBTH, Prof Idia Ize-Iyamu, took charge of the emergency effort, leading the response team across the accident, emergency and burns units to stabilise severe casualties and minimise fatalities.
The men of the Edo State Fire Service were at Oluku, making efforts to extinguish the fire.
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