Two persons have been confirmed dead following a tanker inferno opposite the Odukpani Local Government Secretariat in Odukpani, Cross River State, on Sunday.
The incident, according to the Cross River State Police Command, involved two tanker trucks conveying petroleum products that were involved in a road traffic accident, resulting in an outbreak of fire.
The fire, which started after the accident, spread to nearby shops, buildings and vehicles, causing extensive damage to property in the area.
In a preliminary incident update issued by the Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Eitokpah Sunday Akata, the command said the driver of one of the tankers was initially rescued from the inferno and taken to a hospital for medical attention.
However, a subsequent update from the command confirmed that the driver had died while receiving treatment.
The police also confirmed that the conductor of the tanker died at the scene of the accident.
The identities of the two deceased persons had not been established as of the time of filing this report.
The police command initially reported that one person had died while another sustained serious injuries and was receiving medical attention before confirming the deaths of both the driver and conductor.
The command said officers from the Odukpani Police Division were deployed to the scene to maintain law and order, secure the area and prevent further casualties.
It added that the Fire Service had been alerted and deployed to the scene to contain and extinguish the inferno.
The police said several shops and vehicles were affected by the fire, although the extent of the damage was yet to be fully ascertained.
The command urged residents and motorists to keep away from the immediate vicinity of the incident and allow emergency responders unhindered access to the scene.
It also assured members of the public that further information would be released as soon as more facts were verified.
The incident has raised fresh concerns over the dangers posed by petroleum tanker accidents, particularly in populated areas where an overturned tanker can quickly trigger widespread fire and destruction.
