Three children, 12 others roasted to death in Enugu petrol tanker explosion

Tragedy struck on Saturday in Enugu when a petrol tanker exploded along along the Ugwu Onyeama section of the Enugu – Onitsha Expressway, killing at least 15 people, including three children.

The explosion, which occurred around 11:30am, caused widespread panic, affecting another petrol tanker and razing six other vehicles.

It was not clear how the incident happened but witnesses told our correspondent that the explosion occurred when a fuel-laden tanker fell while navigating down the hilly busy expressway.

They described the blast as devastating, saying that the ensuing fire also gutted another truck behind it, leading to the escalation if the fire.

Rescue efforts were hindered by the intensity of the fire, making it difficult for bystanders to access the scene.

Victims reportedly burnt beyond recognition werr believed to be occupants of the vehicles caught in the inferno.

It was gathered that some of the victims were attempting to run away from the scene when they were caught by the fire.

When contacted, the sector commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps, Franklin Agbakoba Onyekwere, told our correspondent that he was at the crime scene and yet to fully collate data.