A fuel tanker caught fire on the Owerri–Umuahia Road in Mbaise, Imo State, on Sunday while offloading petroleum products at a filling station.
Eyewitnesses reported that the fire broke out around midday during routine offloading operations.
Videos circulating online showed thick black smoke rising into the sky as flames engulfed the tanker and spread to sections of the station.
Emergency responders, including personnel of the Imo State Fire Service, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and other security agencies, were deployed to the scene to contain the blaze and prevent it from extending to nearby buildings and vehicles.
As of the time of filing this report, the cause of the fire and the number of casualties had not been officially confirmed, although initial reports indicated that some persons sustained injuries.
