One dead, 13 luxury buses burnt in Onitsha inferno

By Francis Onyeukwu

An inferno has caused the death of one yet-to-be-identified person while 13 luxury buses and property worth several millions of naira were destroyed at New Tarzan junction at Ogidi, near Onitsha.

Mr Emeka Obinwa, an official of Anambra State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) confirmed the incident on Monday in Awka.

Obinwa said that the incident occurred at about 4 pm on Sunday, Aug. 15, adding that the fire caused panic in the area as residents and motorists scampered for safety.

He said that a preliminary finding by SEMA revealed that a tanker ladened with petroleum product parked by the roadside was rammed by a trailer resulting in leakage of the product which later got ignited.

According to him, some residents were scooping the product inside drainage channels when the fire which eventually caused the havoc started.

He said that one life lost was yet to be identified due to the inferno while 13 Luxurious buses belonging to a mass transit company were razed.

However, he said that security agents were mobilised and the entire area cordoned off to avoid hoodlums taking advantage of the situation to loot property.

Obinwa, Executive Assistant Media to Gov. Willie Obiano on SEMA disclosed that five fire trucks were immediately deployed to the scene as soon as the agency was contacted.

He regretted that some residents of the area were scooping the product before the fire started regardless of several warnings by the authorities.

NAN