A 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 content on the road.
LEADERSHIP Sunday gathered that the incident occurred close to the main entrance in 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 jam, occasioned by the ongoing reconstruction of the Akpajo-Onne axis of the road.
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 Sunday in Port Harcourt yesterday.
Obele, who stated that the poor handling and inability of RCC to provide smooth alternative route or ease of traffic is the root cause of the fire accident, called on the company 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 deplorable state of the Eleme East West road triggered massive coordinated protest by the youths of Eleme, supported by the youths of 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.”