A petrol-laden tanker has exploded at Karu Bridge, near Nyanya, along the Abuja-Keffi Road, Abuja.
The incident has destroyed no fewer than 30 vehicles, raising fears of multiple casualties.
The explosion occurred when the tanker, carrying Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), lost control and crashed on the bridge, igniting a fire that rapidly spread to nearby vehicles.
A heavy presence of military personnel and emergency responders was observed at the scene.
Security officials have cordoned off the affected area, redirecting traffic to facilitate the operations of firefighting teams and medical personnel.
As of the time of this report, the exact number of casualties has yet to be confirmed. However, there are concerns over multiple casualties, and rescue operations are ongoing.
In a statement signed by the Head of Public Affairs at the FCT Emergency Management Department (FEMD), Nkechi Isa, the Head of Forecasting, Response, and Mitigation, Mark Nyam, explained the circumstances surrounding the accident: “A ghastly motor accident has occurred at the Karu Bridge, between Kugbo and Nyanya in the FCT. The accident, which occurred at about 7:14 this evening, involved a Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) truck and other vehicles.
“The accident happened when the driver of the CNG truck lost control on the bridge, thereby running into other motorists and causing an explosion.”
