At least 11 people have reportedly sustained varying degrees of burns following a petrol tanker explosion in Oluku, Ovia North-East Local Government Area of Edo State.
The incident occurred on Thursday, October 15, 2026, along the Benin-Lagos Expressway after a petrol tanker reportedly overturned earlier in the morning.
According to reports, residents gathered around the fallen tanker to scoop fuel that had spilled onto the road. The situation took a dangerous turn at about 1 p.m. when the tanker reportedly burst into flames.
The fire spread rapidly, affecting nearby shops, market structures and vehicles in the area, leaving residents and traders scrambling for safety.
The injured victims were reportedly rushed to the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), where emergency medical personnel attended to those requiring urgent treatment.
The hospital’s Chief Medical Director, Professor Idia Ize-Iyamu, reportedly coordinated the emergency response, with medical teams mobilised to provide care for the victims.
Personnel of the Edo State Fire Service were also deployed to the scene to battle the inferno.
However, reports published on Thursday gave differing casualty figures, with some indicating that more people may have been affected than initially reported. The full extent of the damage and the final casualty figures had yet to be conclusively established at the time of reporting.
The incident has once again highlighted the dangers of scooping fuel from fallen tankers, a practice that can expose people to devastating fires and explosions.
Residents are advised to stay away from overturned fuel tankers and spilled petroleum products and allow emergency responders to secure the area.
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