Twenty people, including a pregnant woman, children, and elderly persons, were reportedly killed in a tanker explosion at Koko junction along the Warri-Benin Highway in Warri North Local Government Area of Delta State.

The tragic incident occurred in the early hours of Sunday, October 1, 2023, due to a spark from a faulty vehicle while the victims were busy scooping fuel from a fallen tanker.

According to an eyewitness, the victims rushed to scoop fuel from the tanker despite being warned by drivers and security men who had stormed the scene. The eyewitness added that some victims also ran into the forest while some dead bodies were removed.

“We tried to prevent them, but the youths threatened to beat us up, telling us it’s their community. They came in their numbers carrying all sorts of containers, and when the explosion happened around 12:15 a.m. this morning, we all fled.

“You can see dead bodies on the ground, some of them ran into the forest as I speak some dead bodies have been removed, I counted over 20 bodies,” the eyewitness said

Some bodies were burnt beyond recognition, while burnt vehicles, including the exploded tanker, were seen at the explosion scene.

The Federal Road Safety Corps and other emergency agencies are currently at the scene to evacuate the dead bodies and clear the debris. The cause of the explosion is still under investigation.