A devastating fire outbreak along the Ugwu Onyeama section of the Enugu-Onitsha Expressway has claimed the lives of three people and destroyed property valued at about N900 million.
The incident, which occurred in the early hours of Monday, involved a collision between a Dangote truck transporting cement and a tanker carrying liquefied natural gas (LNG).
Confirming the development on Tuesday, the Deputy Superintendent of Fire at the Federal Fire Service, Maxwell Ucheagwu, said emergency responders received a distress call at approximately 3:28 a.m. and immediately mobilised firefighters and equipment to the scene.
According to preliminary findings, the crash was triggered by a brake failure on the cement-laden truck, which slammed into the LNG tanker. The impact reportedly damaged the tanker and caused a leakage of its contents, resulting in the fire emergency.
Ucheagwu disclosed that three individuals lost their lives, while several others sustained injuries and were taken to a nearby medical facility for treatment.
He praised military personnel stationed at a nearby checkpoint for their swift response, noting that they played a vital role in rescuing victims and assisting with the evacuation of the injured.
The fire engulfed a large portion of the area, affecting an estimated 200 by 100 square metres of land.
Firefighters from the Federal Fire Service, supported by the Enugu State Fire Service, successfully prevented a major disaster by cooling the leaking LNG tanker with water and foam, thereby stopping the spread of the fire.
The fire official added that thorough post-fire inspections and damping-down operations were conducted, confirming that there was no further leakage or risk of another outbreak.
He estimated that property worth around N900 million was destroyed during the incident, while assets valued at approximately N800 million were saved through the timely intervention of emergency responders.
Following the successful containment of the situation, all firefighting personnel and equipment returned safely to their base at about 6:38 a.m.
Authorities are continuing investigations into the circumstances surrounding the tragic accident.