Petrol tankers catch fire, affects buildings in Port Harcourt

Two petrol tankers with several litres of petrol, on Wednesday, went up in flames at a loading depot at Abonnema Wharf  in Port Harcourt.

Eye witnesses told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the tankers caught fire shortly after they were loaded with petroleum product.

A NAN Correspondent at the scene reported that some residential shanties in the neigbourhood were engulfed by fire, while several residents scampered for safety with a few belongings and their children.

A resident, Mr Soye Williams, said the fire started at about 1.00 p.m immediately one of the tankers came out of the loading depot.

“What we saw was a huge explosion, which also caught up with another tanker loaded with fuel. I understand that each tanker has the capacity to carry more than 33,000 litres of fuel.

“We are trying our best to salvage the little belongings we can, and also save our chidren,” he said.

Williams said two men who were standing close to the first tanker had sereve burns and were taken to Teme Clinic, Port Harcourt, which houses the France-based NGO, Doctors Without Borders.

NAN reported that the incident resulted in disruption of traffic within the Abonnema wharf area.

The Public Relations Officer of the state police command, Mrs Rita Abbey, told NAN that they had received information on the fire outbreak.

“There has been no report of any casualty, and the cause of the fire is being investigated,” she said.
Fire fighters from the state fire service have been battling to put out the fire.

Forrás: http://tribune.com.ng/index.php/news/16408-petrol-tankers-catch-fire-affects-buildings-in-port-harcourt