Enugu tanker accident destroys property worth ₦900m, agencies give differing casualty figures

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and the Federal Fire Service have given differing casualty figures following an accident involving a cement-laden truck and a Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) tanker at the Ugwu Onyeama axis of the Enugu-Onitsha Expressway in Enugu State.

The accident, which occurred on Monday, triggered a major emergency response involving personnel of the FRSC, the Federal Fire Service, the Enugu State Fire Service and military personnel stationed near the scene.

Speaking to newsmen in Enugu on Tuesday, the Public Education Officer of the FRSC Enugu State Sector Command, Route Commander Theophilus Okoduwa, said the accident involved a Howo truck loaded with bags of cement and a MAN Diesel truck conveying LNG.

According to Okoduwa, four male adults were involved in the crash.

“Only one person unfortunately lost his life in the fatal accident involving four male adults,” he said.

He added that those injured in the accident were rushed to nearby medical facilities for treatment.

“The FRSC alerted the State and Federal Fire Service officials on time, just a few minutes after the accident occurred.

“They arrived on time and did wet the whole area with special liquid, which ensured there was no outbreak of fire,” he said.

Okoduwa noted that the cause of the accident had yet to be determined, adding that investigations were ongoing.

However, the Deputy Superintendent of Fire, Federal Fire Service, Mr Maxwell Ucheagwu, gave a different casualty figure, saying three persons lost their lives in the incident.

Ucheagwu said the Federal Fire Service Command in Enugu received a distress call and immediately deployed personnel and firefighting equipment to the scene.

“Preliminary investigation revealed that the accident was caused by brake failure on the Dangote truck, which rammed into the LNG tanker, causing damage to the tanker and leakage of its contents,” he said.

He disclosed that several other victims sustained varying degrees of injuries and were evacuated to a nearby hospital for treatment.

The fire officer commended Nigerian soldiers stationed at a nearby roadblock for their prompt intervention in rescuing victims and assisting in the evacuation of the injured.

“The fire affected an estimated area measuring about 200 by 100 square metres,” he said.

Ucheagwu explained that firefighters successfully contained the emergency by cooling the leaking LNG tanker with water and foam solution, with support from the Enugu State Fire Service, thereby preventing further escalation of the incident.

He added that subsequent inspection and damping-down operations confirmed that there was no further leakage or outbreak of fire.

According to him, property worth approximately ₦900 million was destroyed in the incident, while assets estimated at ₦800 million were salvaged through the swift response of emergency personnel.

Ucheagwu said all firefighters and equipment returned safely to base after successfully bringing the situation under control.

Eyewitnesses said soldiers stationed near the accident scene also joined rescue efforts, helping to pull survivors from the wreckage before emergency responders arrived.