A petrol tanker explosion along the Ihiala axis of the Onitsha–Owerri Road in Anambra State on Sunday left two persons dead and one injured.
The incident, which occurred around 9:30 a.m. opposite the Federal Road Safety Corps office, happened after the tanker reportedly collided with a vehicle, lost control, and rammed into a roadside barricade.
The impact led to a spill of its contents and a subsequent fire outbreak.
Eyewitnesses said the tanker was travelling at high speed before the crash. The explosion that followed caused panic in the area and disrupted traffic flow as flames spread to nearby sections of the road.
According to one witness, the tanker driver and his conductor were burnt beyond recognition, while a motorcyclist riding behind the tanker sustained injuries and was rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment.
The Sector Public Education Officer of the FRSC in Anambra State, Margaret Onabe, confirmed the incident, noting that the crash involved the tanker and a motorcycle, both of which had no registration numbers.
She attributed the accident to excessive speed and loss of control, stating that three adult males were involved, with two fatalities recorded and one survivor receiving medical attention at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Ihiala.
Onabe added that FRSC rescue officials promptly contacted the fire service, and both agencies worked together to extinguish the fire and restore normalcy.
She sympathised with the families of the deceased and urged motorists to obey speed limits and exercise caution on the roads, stressing that safety remains a collective responsibility.
