Tragic scenes unfolded in Oluku, Ovia North-East Local Government Area of Edo State, on Thursday morning following a petrol tanker explosion that left four people dead, ten severely injured, and extensive commercial property destroyed.
The incident occurred around 7:30 a.m. along the Benin-Lagos Expressway after a loaded petroleum tanker overturned near local trading structures. According to eyewitness accounts, local residents and commercial operators rushed to the scene with jerrycans to siphon spilled fuel despite warnings from security personnel on site.
The spilled fuel subsequently ignited, triggering an explosion that rapidly spread across adjacent shops, vehicles, and the nearby Bob Izua Market.
Confirming casualties at the scene, eyewitnesses noted that four bodies, including that of a soldier who was attempting to manage the crowd, were recovered. Ten survivors who suffered severe burn injuries were rushed to the Accident and Emergency unit of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) for urgent medical stabilization.
The Chief Medical Director of UBTH, Prof. Idia Ize-Iyamu, personally led medical response teams across emergency and burn units to manage arriving casualties.
Meanwhile, firefighters from the Edo State Fire Service responded to the scene to extinguish the flames and prevent further destruction of surrounding commercial property.
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