(Kwara accident scene. Photo Credit: DailyPost)
Firefighters responded to an accident involving a 45,000-liter gasoline tanker at a filling station on Monday, preventing a massive fire disaster in Ilorin, Kwara State.
According to DailyPost, the event happened at YTK Filling Station, which is across from the Youth Camp in the Apata neighborhood of Eyenkorin, at around 6:02 a.m.
The spokesman for the Kwara State Fire Service, Hassan Adekunle, said a fuel tanker with registration number ARP 51 XB was involved in an accident after its driver reportedly lost control while attempting to reposition the vehicle within the station’s premises.
According to Adekunle, the tanker rammed into the station’s perimeter fence, causing the compartment containing Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), commonly known as petrol, to detach from the truck.
He said firefighters swiftly secured the scene on arrival and immediately commenced cooling and dampening operations aimed at eliminating any potential source of ignition and preventing an outbreak of fire.
He noted that their prompt response ensured the highly flammable product did not ignite despite the dangerous circumstances.
The spilled fuel was subsequently siphoned safely into another empty tanker under the close supervision of the fire service, bringing the operation to a successful conclusion without any loss of life, injury, or fire damage.
The Chief Fire Officer, Alabi Muhammed, commended the emergency responders for their professionalism and timely intervention, noting that their action helped avert what could have escalated into a major disaster.
He also advised tanker drivers and petroleum marketers to strictly observe established safety procedures in the transportation, parking and handling of petroleum products, stressing that caution remains the most effective way of preventing avoidable emergencies.
Road accidents involving petroleum tankers have continued to pose a significant safety concern in Nigeria, often resulting in devastating fires, loss of lives and destruction of property, with fire authorities repeatedly calling on tanker operators to comply with safety regulations to minimise the risk of such incidents.