A tanker loaded with petrol caught fire at a filling station at Aule Area of Akure, the Ondo State capital, on Monday. It was gathered that the incident happened when the tanker was discharging fuel into the filling station’s underground tank.
Shop owners around the filling station hurriedly closed their shops and stood at a safe distance as the fire raged.
Men of the Federal Fire Service and Ondo State Fire Service rushed to the scene and put out the fire, preventing it from spreading to other nearby buildings.
A resident of the area, Mr Yemi Fadero, said, “I was in my shop down there when I saw thick smoke, so I quickly rushed to see what was going on. On getting there, I saw firefighters fighting to put out the fire. Thank God no life was lost in the inferno.”
Speaking on the incident, the deputy youth leader in the area, Mr Imuesemen John, said they were shocked when they heard about the fire.
“Youths of this community joined the firefighters to put out the fire. Some items were destroyed but no life was lost. We beg the government to save us. Filling stations should be built outside the community. Our safety is paramount to us,” he said.
