…as DG instructs enugu zonal office to collaborate with relevant authorities
By Nkechi Eze
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has revealed that a total of 16 vehicles conveying 44 persons were burnt in the devastating tanker fire explosion which occurred on January 25, 2025, at Ugwu Onyeama expressway in Enugu State.
According to a press statement made available to newsmen by the NEMA head of public relations, a joint team consisting of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Enugu State Emergency Management Agency (ENSEMA), and Federal Road Safety Corp (FRSC) has conducted a rapid assessment and ascertained that the tragic incident resulted in 18 persons burnt on the spot beyond recognition, 23 sustained various degrees of burns and 3 persons did not sustain any injury.
The team aims to determine the cause and extent of the damage, locate affected individuals, and provide necessary assistance.
Further more, findings from the assessment revealed that a truck carrying full load of petroleum motor spirit (PMS) otherwise known as petrol, suffered break failures when it could no longer move forward on elevated area of the expressway and in the process of its rolling back, crashed into roadside concretes and vehicles behind, spilled its product and subsequently caught fire.
“A total of 16 vehicles conveying 44 persons were burnt, which resulted in 18 persons burnt on the spot beyond recognition, 23 sustained various degrees of burns and 3 persons did not sustain any injury.
“The injured victims have been moved to Enugu State University Teaching Hospital (ESUTH) Parklane and the National Orthopedic hospital all in Enugu.
“While nine of the victims have been treated and discharged, six are still on admission at the Orthopedic hospital” He said.
Noting that most of the victims were travelers as they are not from a particular community or state.
Meanwhile, the Director General NEMA Mrs Zubaida Umar has sympathized with victims of the fire explosion and commended the first responders for their swift action in evacuating those affected to medical facilities. She has also directed the NEMA Enugu zonal office to collaborate with relevant authorities to provide necessary assistance to the victims promptly.
