Chaos in Abuja as petrol tanker explodes at Karu Bridge, over 30 vehicles destroyed

A petrol-laden tanker exploded on Karu Bridge, near Nyanya, along the Abuja-Keffi Road on Tuesday evening, causing massive destruction and raising fears of multiple casualties.

The explosion, which occurred around 7:14 p.m., happened when the tanker carrying Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) lost control and crashed on the bridge, igniting a fierce fire that quickly engulfed nearby vehicles. Reports indicate that at least 30 vehicles were destroyed in the inferno.

Emergency responders and security personnel swiftly arrived at the scene to contain the situation.

Military officers and police cordoned off the affected area, redirecting traffic to allow firefighters and medical teams to carry out rescue operations.

The exact number of casualties remains uncertain as of the time of this report, but there are growing concerns over possible fatalities.

In an official statement, the Head of Public Affairs at the FCT Emergency Management Department (FEMD), Nkechi Isa, quoted the Head of Forecasting, Response, and Mitigation, Mark Nyam, explaining the cause of the accident.

“A ghastly motor accident has occurred at the Karu Bridge, between Kugbo and Nyanya in the FCT. The accident, which happened at about 7:14 this evening, involved a Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) truck and several other vehicles.

“The incident was triggered when the driver of the CNG truck lost control on the bridge, colliding with other motorists and leading to a massive explosion,” the statement read.

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