A fatal road accident involving a petrol-laden tanker occurred on Sunday at Umuike Echem community, Nnobi, near Nnokwa junction in Idemili South Local Government Area of Anambra State, resulting in the death of one person.
According to eyewitness accounts, the driver of the Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) tanker lost control while navigating a sharp bend and crashed into a perimeter fence.
The impact caused the tanker to tip over, leading to a petrol leak and raising the risk of a major fire.
“There were two people in the truck — the driver and a conductor,” one witness said.
“The conductor fell out during the crash and died instantly, while the driver sustained injuries and was taken to the hospital for treatment.”
Prompt intervention by the Anambra State Fire Service helped prevent a potential explosion. Firefighters arrived quickly and carried out cooling operations to contain the situation.
They also oversaw the safe transloading of the petrol into another truck.
When reporters visited the site on Monday, the area had been cordoned off by fire service officials to prevent public access and ensure safety.
The State Fire Chief, Chukwudi Chiketa, confirmed the incident in a statement issued by the Media and Publicity Unit of the Fire Service. He said two firefighting crews, equipped with trucks and fire control gear, were deployed to the scene following a distress call received at 9:45 a.m. on Sunday.
Chiketa expressed condolences to the family of the deceased conductor and wished the injured driver a speedy recovery.
He also assured residents that the situation was under control and urged the public to carry on with their daily activities.