At least 15 people have reportedly died in a tanker explosion that rocked the commercial town of Ore, Odigbo Local Government Area of Ondo State on Sunday evening.
Eyewitnesses revealed that the fuel, which had spilled onto the road, was ignited by a spark emanating from a mobile phone held by one of the individuals involved in the fuel scooping.
It always learnt that residents of the area had besieged the scene of a crash to scoop petrol from a truck when the incident occurred.
The unfortunate incident was said to have occurred along Showboy road, near a filling station in the area.
An okada rider in the vicinity, identified simply as John narrated the tragedy saying that the inferno claimed the lives of over 15 individuals.
He said the victims who were roasted to death include three children and a pregnant woman.
“After the truck crashed, people began to rush to the scene to scoop fuel. It was in the process that the truck exploded.
“Three children died, and we have counted over 15 bodies. A pregnant woman who wanted to buy fuel also died,” he disclosed.
The Ondo State Police Command Public Relations Officer, Fumilayo Odunlami-Omisanya, confirmed the incident and described the victims as fuel scoopers.
Meanwhile, our correspondent called and she did not pick.
