Sixty year old widow and four others killed in another tanker explosion in Mbiama community Bayelsa State

Another heavy duty truck loaded with fuel, yesterday crashed into the busy market of Mbiama community, situated between Rivers and Bayelsa states  and exploded, killing a sixty year-old widow and four other persons.

Also affected by the explosion were scores of makeshift shops used by roadside hawkers, a mini park used by the members of the National Road and Transport Workers Union (NRTWU), houses and cars parked within the vicinity of the crash.

Eyewitness told said that the widow was caught in the explosion due to her ill-health. She was reportedly selling local gin in the market. The number of deaths recorded was attributed to the marketing nature of the area. Many of the occupants of the shops were selling sachet water and other drinks on the road leading to Yenagoa.

Vehicular movement was stopped for hours and the late arrival of the men of the Bayelsa State Fire Service to the scene provoked onlookers and some injured victims, who threw stones at the fire fighters and their vehicles.

An auto mechanic, whose workshop and vehicles under repairs were razed by the fire, Mr. Musa Kasumu, lamented that he had lost everything, including his shop and residence.”

Jeremiah Davidson, who also lost his house, said, “I believe the fire was caused by the carelessness of the tanker driver. With the information we had, the truck came down the hill and hit a car. It was reportedly on high speed on getting to this point, the driver lose control why trying to dodge a car coming the opposite direction, and the tanker fell and exploded.”

Another trader, Deborah Moses, in tears said, “My water and the soft drinks I sell are all gone.”

Even the items belonging to my twin sister are burnt. I just made new purchases yesterday.”

The head of operation, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Ahoada Unit of Rivers State, Mr. Alagoa Oja, attributed the crash and explosion to impatience. “The tanker came from the Warri axis. Naturally, this is a junction, and there is bound to be traffic here, but he wasn’t patient enough. We tried to dodge a car and it went off the road. So a little patience would have helped because all he needed was to queue behind other vehicles before he moved''