Yet-to-be ascertained number of persons were killed while several vehicles were burnt on Friday night along the Akpajo axis of the East-West Road in Eleme local government area of Rivers State, when a tanker laden with premium motor spirit (PMS) overturned and spilled its contents on the road, leading to a fire outbreak.
LEADERSHIP gathered that the incident occurred close to the main entrance of Indorama-Eleme Petrochemicals Limited complex.
An eyewitness told our Correspondent that most of the affected vehicles and their occupants were those trapped due to traffic gridlock occasioned by the ongoing reconstruction of the Akpajo-Onne axis of the road.
However, it could not be immediately ascertained the number of lives lost in the accident, which started at about 8:00pm Friday night.
Meanwhile, property owners along the East-West Road have blamed the contractor handling the road project, Reynolds Construction Company (RCC), for the accident.
Chairman of All Property Owners on Eleme/East-West Road, Dr. Joseph Obele, made the allegation in a statement made available to LEADERSHIP in Port Harcourt on Saturday.
Obele, who stated that the the poor handling and inability of RCC to provide smooth alternative route or ease of traffic was the root cause of the fire accident, called on the company to pay for all the damages caused by the fire accident.
He said: “Our heart goes out to all those affected by the tragedy and horrible fire accident on the Eleme East-West Road.
Hundreds of lives, trucks and cars were counted in the fire accident
“The poor handling and inability of RCC to provide smooth alternative route or ease of traffic is the root cause of the fire accident. Hence, RCC should pay for all the damages caused by the fire accident, after which the contract should be revoked immediately
“The deplorable state of the Eleme East-West road triggered massive coordinated protest by the Youths of Eleme, supported by the Youths Ogoni and Okrika, after which the road construction was re-awarded to RCC.
“The signing of the contract by RCC attracted protest letters from community stakeholders and users of the road because it was obvious that RCC never had the capacity and reputation to handle such contract.”