UPDATE: 95 Dead, 18 Injured In Rivers Petrol Tanker Disaster (Photo)

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) on Thursday said 95 persons died and 18 sustained injuries as the casualty figure rose in the petrol tanker disaster which occurred on Thursday at Okobe village, Ahoada West Local Government Area of Rivers.

An earlier count by the Federal Road Safety Commission put the number of the dead at 80.


Dr Kayode Olagunju, the Sector Commander of the commission in Rivers, said in a text message to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that 93 bodies were recovered at the scene, while two died in the hospital.

He said the accident which occurred around 6.30 am on Thursday, involved four vehicles, including the tanker which later caught fire when people started scrambling for petrol.

Thirty-four motor-cycles were also burnt at the scene, Olagunju added. (NAN)