Enugu tanker accident: Tears as relatives besiege hospitals, search for victims
27 January 2025 |
5:01 am
Tears and lamentations took centre stage, yesterday, as relations of victims of Saturday’s petrol tanker fire incident in Enugu State besieged hospitals to search for survivors.
• Tinubu grieves, orders stricter safety measures
• We won’t wait for FG to fix Enugu-Onitsha road, says Mbah
Tears and lamentations took centre stage, yesterday, as relations of victims of Saturday’s petrol tanker fire incident in Enugu State besieged hospitals to search for survivors.
No fewer than 18 people lost their lives in the unfortunate incident that happened at the Ugwuonyeama axis of the Enugu-Onitsha highway. While the hospitals became a Mecca of sorts, other relatives swooped the scene of the accident, apparently in search of leads about their loved ones.
President Bola Tinubu has expressed deep sorrow over the tragedy. In a statement, yesterday, by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the President extended his heartfelt condolences to the government and people of Enugu, as well as the families of the deceased and injured.
As the accident not only claimed lives, but property and infrastructure, Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu said the state government would not wait for the Federal Government to fix the other section of the expressway, assuring that whatever needed to be done would be explored.
As early as 6.00am, yesterday, the Enugu State University Teaching Hospital, Park Lane, Enugu and the National Orthopaedic Hospital, Enugu, were besieged by those seeking information about the survivors.
When The Guardian visited Park Lane Hospital, it was observed that only one patient remained in the hospital, with others having been transferred to the orthopaedic hospital.
“They were first rushed here at Park Lane, but because of the severity of their burns, they were transferred to the National Orthopaedic Hospital, Enugu, because we couldn’t handle it,” a hospital official said.
At the orthopaedic hospital, newsmen were barred from accessing the wards where the victims were kept. At the accident scene, relatives were seen wailing as soon as they recognised the charred remains of the vehicles conveying their loved ones. One of them pointing at a Lexus car, said, “My in-law, who just returned from abroad, was among the five persons that were burnt inside this Lexus.”
Another person was seen wailing that all his family members burnt to ashes. When contacted, the Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Franklin Onyekwere, said he was in a meeting and told our correspondent to call him back in two hours. But after three hours, his phone line became unreachable.
TINUBU prayed for the repose of the souls of those who lost their lives and swift recovery for those undergoing medical treatment.He urged road users, particularly fuel tanker operators, to prioritise safety and adhere to established traffic regulations.
The President also directed relevant enforcement agencies to implement stricter measures to prevent such tragic occurrences nationwide.
GOVERNOR Mbah made the statement at the accident scene when he visited for an on-the-spot assessment, adding that the government had already swung into action to ensure that the victims received full medical attention.
The governor also revealed that the government was taking steps to forestall future occurrences, including enforcement of road rules and fixing the part of the federal road that was in disrepair.
He directed Onyekwere and the Commissioner for Transport, Obi Ozor, to ensure that tankers conveying inflammable substances ha anti-spill locks that would prevent a spill in case of an accident.
“This is an accident involving a tanker that preliminary investigation shows may have had a brake failure, fell, had its product, Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), spilt from the tank and ignited.
“So, this is, for us, a tragedy where we have some casualties. But the investigation is still in the preliminary stages. The police and other law enforcement agencies are on it.”
Briefing the governor on the incident, the FRSC sector commander said the tanker spill was a result of a brake failure by the fuel tanker.He thanked the governor for showing leadership by rushing to the scene and equally undertaking to foot the medical bills.
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