A quiet evening in Ozubulu turned tragic when a petrol-laden tanker exploded along Udoji Road, near the Ekwusigo Local Government Secretariat, unleashing a violent blaze that claimed one life and destroyed several shops.
The chaos began after a collision involving the tanker, a car, and a tricycle. In seconds, the tanker’s contents spilled across the road, igniting an explosion that sent flames racing into nearby buildings. Residents watched in horror as thick smoke billowed skyward and fire engulfed at least six shops.
Eyewitnesses described a scene of panic and heartbreak. One resident recalled how the tanker “hit a car and a tricycle, spilled its contents and then exploded,” adding that a victim was burned beyond recognition, while passengers in the tricycle suffered severe burns before being rushed to the hospital.
Emergency responders scrambled to the scene after a distress call alerted the Anambra State Fire Service. According to the agency’s Head of Media and Publicity, Chukwudi Chiketa, three fire trucks were deployed immediately to battle the inferno.
By the time the flames were finally subdued, one life had been lost and a cluster of shops reduced to smoldering ruins—leaving the community devastated and searching for answers in the wake of the disaster.
