Pregnant woman, children die in Ondo tanker explosion

No fewer than eight people, including a pregnant woman and three children, have died in a tanker explosion in Ore, Odigbo Local Government Area of Ondo State.

It was gathered that the tanker exploded on Sunday, July 23, 2023, when some residents of the area were scooping petrol from the truck.

A trader in the area, who gave her name as Nireti, disclosed that the explosion occurred when the fuel was ignited by a spark from a phone held by one of the people who was scooping people that spilled from the tanker.

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Nireti said: “I was in my shop when I heard the tanker fall. The rain was also falling. People were scooping fuel when fire started after a spark from a phone.

“Three children died, and we have counted over 8 bodies. A pregnant woman who wanted to buy the fuel also died. The money is still with her.”

The incident was confirmed by the Ondo State Police Public Relations Officer, Olufumilayo Odunlami-Omisanya.

“Yes, the fuel tanker fell. Some people went there to scoop fuel, in the process the tanker exploded. 8 people were confirmed dead as of yesterday (Sunday) evening,” the police spokesperson said.

The Star