A pregnant woman among the 49 persons that died in Onitsha tanker fire accident....SEE PHOTOs

Firstclass newsline learnt that no fewer than 50 persons, including a
pregnant woman and some children, were burnt by the fire, which also
consumed about 15 buses.
Firstclass newsline learnt that some " newspaper free readers",
at newsstands were among the victims.
Eyewitnesses said that one of the buses was loading passengers in a
park near the scene of the incident when the flames consumed it and
three motorcycles at about 3pm.
One of them, who gave his name simply as Okechukwu, said the driver of
the tanker was descending the Upper Iweka Road from the Enugu-Nkpor
Road when he lost control of the vehicle.
He added, "We learnt that the tanker suffered a brake failure and the
driver lost control.
"I think he tried to stop the vehicle with some of the barriers on the
road, but unfortunately the tanker rammed into a building and fell."
Okechukwu said the tanker caught fire 10 minutes after ramming into
the building. He added that the tanker was on its way to Asaba in
Delta State when the incident happened.
It was gathered that the inferno attracted many residents of the city
who were helpless. Many of them reportedly resorted to crying.
Another eyewitness, Joseph Ugwuanyi, on his Facebookpage wrote,
"At about 1pm to 2pm, a fuel tanker rammed into the busy Asaba Park in
Upper Iweka Road, Onitsha, and went up in flames, maiming scores. The
fire lasted for approximately an hour before firefighters were able to
control it.
"Many of us initially thought there were no casualties, though some
people sustained serious injuries while fleeing the scene.
"However, it was later learnt after the fire subsided that there was a
massive carnage of victims who were either caught unawares or those
who were already seated in the now charred buses in the park.
"They reportedly were burnt beyond recognition in the hour-long intense fire."
The Anambra State Commissioner of Police, Hosea Karma, who visited the
scene of the incident with senior police officers of the command,
could be seen directing the evacuation of the charred remains of the
victims.
As of 5.15pm, charred bodies were still being evacuated from the area
by security and para-military operatives as well as officers of
the Federal Road Safety Corps.
Karma described the incident as "tragic and unfortunate."
He said the tanker was coming from Oguta Road and was trying to link
up with Owerri Road when the driver lost control .
The Commissioner of Police said, "All the persons inside the buses ─ I
think about 12 buses ─ were burnt beyond recognition.
"Scores of other victims, who were still alive, were immediately
rushed to a nearby hospital.
"We cannot state the number of those involved in the incident because
we are still working. The number will come after the end of the
evacuation."
It was gathered that the Anambra State Governor, Willie Obiano,
broke down in tears at the scene of the incident.
The state Commissioner for Transport, Chief Chuma Mbonu, described the
incident as unfortunate.
He said the information with the government was that 14 vehicles were
burnt, while scores of people were trapped.
Firstclassnewsline.net