Just in: scores feared dead in tanker explosion

Tragedy struck on Friday as many people were feared killed in a petrol tanker explosion along the Calabar-Odukpani Highway in Odukpani local government area of Cross River State .

The incident occurred at a bend close to the Odukpani local government secretariat.
It was gathered that the petrol tanker fell while trying to negotiate the bend with residents rushing to the scene to scoop petrol.

Eyewitnesses reported the clamor for petrol resulted into a spark as some of the residents used metal containers to scoop the product.
This led to an explosion which killed several people at once.

At the scene, the police tried to contain the situation as the fire raged.
Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Irene Ugbo, could not confirm the number of fatalities as at press time.