A breastfeeding mother and her three-month-old baby were among the eight persons confirmed dead in a petroleum tanker explosion at Ometan-Okpe community along the ever-busy Effurun-Sapele Road in Okpe Local Government Area of Delta State on Friday.
The explosion was said to have occurred around 10am when a tanker said to be carrying fuel developed mechanical fault and reportedly lost the head while on motion thereby resulting in an explosion by the busy Ometan-Okpe junction.
It was gathered that the fuel laden tanker was said to have exploded and razed buildings and other property.
It was learnt that the breastfeeding mother was roasted to death while trying to rescue her three-month-old baby who was trapped in the inferno.
Also, a 16-year-old secondary schoolgirl and her mother who were trapped in their apartment were among the deceased.
Some witnesses blamed the incident on the tanker driver whom they accused of overspeeding and called on the Delta State Government to come to the rescue of property owners who lost their houses and other means of livelihood to the unfortunate incident.
