13 Killed In Benue Tanker Explosion, 40 Injured

No fewer than 13 persons were burnt to ashes while 40 others sustained varying degrees of burns at Gbatse settlement of Ushongo local council area, Benue state when a tanker carrying  Premium Motor Spirit, PMS, exploded.

Our correspondent gathered that many houses located near the scene of the explosion as well as motorcycles were also burnt.

Gbatse is a community located between Akerior and Ushongo local government area of the state. It was also gathered from some of the deceased families that the inferno which started at about 9:30 am burnt two bodies beyond recognition while those inflicted with severe burns were immediately rushed to the nearby Ostra – Gum Clinic in Ushongo town for primary care before they  were moved to Benue State University Teaching Hospital following the directive of the state governor  Samuel Ortom  for treatment.

Some of the locals in the area who spoke to our correspondent alleged that a policeman who arrived the scene early, fired two gun shots into the air to scare people away from  scooping the wasted petroleum which made the tanker to go on fire and explode, causing damages.

Meanwhile, at the time our correspondent visited the Benue State University Teaching Hospital, Makurdi  not less than 12 victims of the inferno were attended to by a team of medical doctors.

The Chief Medical Director of the hospital was also noticed taking the state Commissioner for Health and Human services, Dr. Cecilia Ojobo round the Accident and Emergency ward for briefing.

In an interview with our  correspondent after going round the emergency ward, the CMD  Dr. Terlumun Swende expressed disgust over the incidence, noting that the victims were really in serious pains as a result of the burns. Swende said the medical team at the hospital were doing their best to save the lives of the victims, even as he noted with dismay that the accident happened at the time when other medical staff under the guise of JOHESU were still on strike in the hospital.

The Wife of the Benue state governor, Dr Eunice Ortom, also visited some of the victims who are staying at Oostra Gum where she met 16  and City Clinic where she met five patients, in Ushongo town and donated relief items to them. The items donated included 20 bags of beans, 10 bags of rice, 10 cartons of detergents and bathing soaps, as well as five bags of garri. She assured the victims that the state government would assist in paying their hospital bills even as she gave financial assistance to the families of the deceased.

Some of the victims who spoke with our  correspondent including Terwase Agenda, Mercy Iornumbe Terhemba Mlanga, commended the state government for footing their medical bills.



SOURCE: LEADERSHIP