Six Hospitalized As Fuel Tanker Explodes In Nasarawa

At least six people were badly injured when a fuel-laden tanker exploded yesterday at a petrol station in Nasarawa State.

Reports obtained by Naija News on Tuesday morning revealed that the tragic incident happened at the Sandaji Filling Station situated along the Lafia-Jos road in Lafia, the capital city of Nasarawa State.

One of the station’s attendants, Comfort Igwe, confirmed to journalists that the explosion occurred while a tanker was unloading petroleum products. She noted that the inferno destroyed property valued at over N600 million.

According to Daily Trust, firefighters were diligently working to bring the fire under control when journalists visited the scene of the incident.

Also, security personnel were making every effort to regulate the movement of individuals and vehicles along the Makurdi-Lafia-Jos Road, where the filling station is located.

Staff members of the filling station who sustained injuries from the fire outbreak were promptly taken to the hospital for medical attention, Naija News learnt.

Reacting, the Acting Director of the Nasarawa State Fire Service, Ombugu Joshua, urged residents of the state to promptly inform the firefighters in the event of a fire outbreak for swift response, the media quoted him saying.

Speaking also, the owner of the affected filling station, Aliyu Sandaji, recounted his harrowing experience saying that the tanker, carrying 28 million litres of premium motor spirit, caught fire and completely consumed the entire fuel supply.

He said the fire incident also burnt down a Hilux vehicle belonging to the company and other properties yet to be identified. Sandaji, who is the state Chairman of the Independent Petroleum Maters Association of Nigeria, however, said no life was lost during the unfortunate incident.

He applauded the Federal Fire Service and other security operatives for their quick response that helped avert the fire from escalating to other properties around the filling station.