Tanker explosion: Ondo orders agency to assess damage

The Ondo State government yesterday mandated the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) to assess the level of damage caused by the tanker explosion that occurred on Wednesday night in Akure, the state capital.

Some youths demonstrated against the explosion, which occurred at Onyerugbulem Junction on Ilesha/Owo road in Akure, the state capital.

The incident was reportedly caused by a tanker conveying 33,000 litres of diesel.

Four persons were said to have died while some vehicles and buildings near the expressway were destroyed.

Deputy Governor Agboola Ajayi who addressed the protesting youths, advised them to be calm and law-abiding.

He was accompanied by the senator representing Ondo Central, Chief Tayo Alasoadura, the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Chief Olugbenga Ale and the Commissioner for Works, Mr Taofiq Abdulsalam.

Agboola sympathised with the affected residents and assured them of government immediate help.

The deputy governor promised the protesters, who were calling for the construction of a fly-over in the area, that before the government embarks on that, it would erect speed breakers on the road to control vehicles plying the road.

He also assured the people that traffic controllers will henceforth be on the ground – from 6 a.m to 8 p.m – to control vehicles entering and leaving the area.

Ajayi assured that SEMA would distribute materials to victims of the fire.

A victim and soft drinks dealer at Shagari village junction Mrs Sola Adeala said she lost thousands of naira to the fire.

She said: “I just took stock of assorted soft drinks running into several millions of naira I brought last weekend. They all perished in the fire.”

The businesswoman urged the state government to assist her so she and her family can survive life.

Another victim, Alex Umeh, said even though he lost his car, thanked God for surviving the fire.

Umeh said he was returning from a church programme when he parked at Onyearugbulem Junction to see a friend nearby.

According to him, he heard a bang accompanied by a fire, which consumed his car.