A fuel tanker carrying 33,000 litres of petrol exploded in Aramoko Ekiti, Ekiti West Local Government area, Ekiti State on Tuesday evening leaving six people dead and destroying homes and property, according to witnesses.
A source said the driver of the Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) tanker lost control of his vehicle after the breaks failed on a sloppy section of the road which links to Ibadan-Ilesa way.
Another witness told Saharareporters, "The next thing we heard after the break failure was a big sound and the tanker had already pulled out from the main body. A heavy thick black spot rented the air, and everywhere was consumed of fire."
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The deceased included four people who died when a two-story building and a bungalow close to the main road near the spill caught on fire. Two roadside charge-card sellers also died. A source said the dead were taken to the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital (EKSTH) morgue.
Another witness said property was also destroyed due to the explosion -- several motorcycles parked on the roads and a car belonging to a retired head teacher -- worth an estimated millions of Naira. The driver and his motor boy who both survived the accident are being detained at the Aramoko Divisional Police Station according to a police constable.
Ekiti State deputy Governor, Modupe Adelabu who was clearly upset when she visited the scene spoke out about the driver's reckless driving. She promised a speed breaker would be built at the sloppy end of the road to prevent future accidents. The Alara of Aramoko Ekiti, Oba Olu Adegoke Adeyemi thanked the deputy Governor for visiting the accident site. He urged drivers to check the state of their vehicles for roadworthiness.
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