Three people yesterday lost their lives, while 30 others sustained various degrees of injuries yesterday when a gas laden tanker reportedly had a brake failure on Nkpor Bridge in Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State and hit the protector pillars before bursting into flame.
It was gathered that the ill-fated tanker emptied its liquid content in the market, which led to escalation of the fire in Nkpor Market and resulted in more casualties.
Over 30 people, mostly market women, sustained degrees of injuries, while livestock, tubers of yam, clothes and other food items estimated at millions of naira were burnt.
About five vehicles were also destroyed by the inferno, which men of the fire service battled to put out without success.
Traffic was subsequently diverted to the Enugu/ Onitsha Expressway, where the incident occurred.
Confirming the incident, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in charge of Ogidi Police Division, Mr. H. Musa said the incident occurred at about 4p.m., adding that his men collaborated with fire fighters to salvage the situation.
He, however said, “nobody died and those who were injured have been rushed to the Onitsha General Hospital and Borromeo Hospital.”