PHOTO: Tanker Carrying Petrol Exploses In Calabar
The oil truck exploded in front of the firm’s office making it the fifth
time such explosion is occurring at almost same spot with devastating
effect.
An oil tanker belonging to Hudson Petroleum Ltd at the weekend lost 33,000 liters of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) in an explosion.
The previous explosion is reported to have claimed
several lives, while nearby kiosks and properties worth thousands of
naira were destroyed.
Eye witnesses account claimed that the truck which left the Hudson farm
tank was negotiating the bend in front of the firm’s office when eight
of the tyres pull off and it somersaulted violently leading to explosion
of the oil tanker.
“At least, we know of three trucks that have so somersaulted and exploded at this same spot”, the eye witnesses maintained.
Speaking to newsmen after the incident, Chairman of the local branch of
National Union Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Mr Effiong Solomon said
that, according to his members who drive such oil trucks there are many
of them which are faulty belonging to both Hudson Petroleum Ltd and
nearby Addax Petroleum Ltd at their tank farms.
The chairman stated that the oil firms do not pay heed to such
complaints, saying it was not their business to fix faulty oil tankers
but the owners.
Commenting on the mishap, the Assistant Chief Fire Officer of Cross
River State Fire Service, Mr Effiong Joe Okon pointed out that they were
able to arrive the scene of the explosion with minimum delay and were
able to dampen the impact and quench the fire using foam contents
composed of animal by-products.
He was assisted by the NPA Fire Service as well as Hudson Fire Service.
When contacted, Officials of Hudson Petroleum Ltd who were at the scene
of incident vehemently refused to make comments on the issue as they
claimed not to be in a proper position to make any comment on the
mishap.
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