JUST IN: Petrol Tanker Explodes on Benin–Auchi Road, Several Feared Dead in Edo

A petrol tanker loaded with premium motor spirit (PMS) crashed on the Benin–Auchi Road in Edo State on Wednesday evening, sparking a massive fire that has left several feared dead. The tanker reportedly spilled fuel into drainage channels connecting nearby communities around Auchi, allowing the flames to spread rapidly along the paths created by the escaping petrol.

Eyewitnesses described the fire as engulfing the tanker and traveling through the drainage channels, igniting areas along the connected routes and intensifying the blaze. Residents confirmed that some people were killed, though the exact number remains unknown. Several houses in the vicinity were also affected, and traffic along the busy road has been disrupted, with motorists advised to use alternative routes.

Videos circulating online show local residents attempting to collect petrol from the spill, highlighting the chaos following the accident. Emergency responders are yet to release an official casualty count or detailed assessment of the damage.