Kwara fire averts disaster as petrol tanker detaches at Oloru

‎By Ahmed Olayinka

‎The Kwara State Fire Service has averted a potential disaster after a petroleum tanker loaded with about 45,000 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) detached from its tanker head at Oloru along the New Jebba Expressway, THE PRIME NEWS reports.

‎The incident occurred at about 9:08 a.m. on Thursday, involved a tanker with registration number OYO 45 AA, which was transporting PMS from Lagos to Abuja.

‎According to information gathered at the scene, the driver noticed an unusual sound while driving and pulled over to inspect the vehicle.

After finding no obvious fault, he was preparing to continue the journey when the tank carrying the petroleum product suddenly detached from the tanker head.

The incident occurred within a densely populated area surrounded by buildings, shops and vehicles, creating a serious risk of fire, explosion and possible loss of lives and property.

Upon arrival, firefighters immediately commenced preventive operations by drenching the tanker and surrounding area with water to prevent ignition and contain the situation.

The Fire Service successfully neutralised the immediate danger and maintained a standby presence until the PMS was safely siphoned into another empty tanker.

The Chief Fire Officer of the Kwara State Fire Service, CFS Alabi Muhammed, commended the firefighters for their professionalism and vigilance, stressing that incidents involving petroleum products require swift and coordinated intervention because of their highly flammable nature.

He urged tanker operators and drivers transporting petroleum products to conduct thorough inspections of their vehicles before and during long-distance journeys.

CFS Alabi further advised drivers to immediately alert emergency responders whenever they notice unusual sounds, leaks, mechanical faults or other warning signs.

He also appealed to motorists and residents to keep a safe distance from petroleum tanker incidents and avoid activities capable of generating sparks or flames around spilled petroleum products.

The Kwara State Fire Service reaffirmed its commitment to protecting lives and property through prompt emergency response, preventive firefighting measures and sustained public safety awareness across the state.