Sheriff Oborevwori, the Governor of Delta State, has extended sympathies to the Ometan community in Okpe Local Government Area of the state after seven of its members lost their lives in a tanker fire incident on Friday morning.

Eyewitnesses reported that the fire tragedy took place around 10 a.m. on Friday, as a fuel-laden tanker crashed and its front part detached while in transit along the Warri-Sapele Road in the Ometan settlement. At the scene of the explosion, Oborevwori, accompanied by Emomotimi Guwor, the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, and Isaiah Esiovwa, former Chairman of the Okpe Local Government Council, conveyed condolences to the affected community.

Oborevwori recounted, “I had just returned from inspecting projects in the creeks, where there was no network coverage. Upon reaching the Navy jetty, I received a message from the Head of Personnel Management of Okpe Local Government Council, informing me about the tragic incident. Upon arrival, I witnessed the aftermath, with casualties strewn about. Eyewitnesses described how the tanker accident occurred, resulting in the subsequent explosion and fire.”

“It’s an extremely sorrowful circumstance, and my heart goes out to the Ometan community and the families of the deceased in this tragic event.”

Eyewitnesses described the tanker fire incident as “chaotic and horrifying,” noting that the victims consumed by the inferno were unrecognizably burned, while many others sustained injuries of varying severity and were admitted to hospitals.

The disaster also inflicted damage on several structures, including residential homes, makeshift shelters, vehicles, and large trucks.

Reportedly, the mother of the three-year-old child got trapped in the raging fire while trying to rescue her child.

Another casualty of the explosion, a secondary school student, allegedly perished in the flames upon returning from school.