adminTwo persons have been reported hospitalized on Wednesday after a fire outbreak which occurred at Nine Energies filling station in Asero, Abeokuta, Ogun State.
According to a source the fire started around 10 a.m due to a spark from a pumping machine.
It was also learned that those believed to be killed in the incident were the driver of the tanker that arrived to pick up the diesel and his assistant.
Ogunwatch, speaking to another source gathered that the former NIPCO filling station, the burned tanker was put off by fire fighters from the Ogun State Fire Service.
Some police officers and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence (NSCDC) officials were also on the ground to ensure the protection of people and property.
“We all just saw the thick smoke coming from the filling station, nobody could go near the filling station because of the intensity of the fire. The fire fighters from Ogun State Fire Service later came around to put out the fire.
“We later got to know that the fire started when a tanker that brought diesel was transferring it into another tanker. It was the tanker that was receiving the diesel that went up in flames while the one that brought the diesel hurriedly left the place to avoid being caught up. The two occupants of the tanker that was receiving the fuel were however badly burnt, they were rushed to the hospital by some people”, the source said.
The incident was confirmed by the Director of Ogun State Fire Service, Fatai Adefala, who added that individuals engaged in the fire incident only suffered minor wounds and were sent to Ogun State Hospital, Ijaye for care.
Adefala also clarified that the incident only involved one tanker.
He said “Yes I was there, only one tanker is involved and the fire started when the tanker was about to dispense the diesel into the underground tank, it was the pumping machine that ignited the fire and the two people injured only suffered minor injuries and were rushed to the state hospital”.
Omolola Odutola, the state police command’s Public Relations Officer (PPRO), verified the fire event but could not confirm whether there were casualties.
