A major fire disaster was averted on Friday in Ilorin, Kwara State when a loaded cooking gas tank detached from the vehicle’s main body causing panic among public members.
The incident occurred at about 07:49hrs around the popular Challenge roundabout, opposite the Police ‘A’ Division in the state capital.
Kwara State Fire Service came to the rescue following a distress call by one Mr. Emmanuel, spokesman of the state fire service, Hassan Adekunle, disclosed in a statement in Ilorin on Friday.
Reports said the tanker head detached from its body while on motion and eventually led to the profuse leakage of the gas tank.
Firemen remained on standby throughout the incident to prevent any fire outbreak until the whole siphoning process was completed.
The two major roads to and from ‘A’ Division police station, were blocked till the rescue operation was completed by the fire service personnel.
According to an eyewitness, the accident happened so fast that he could not ascertain the actual cause of the accident.
The Director, Kwara State Fire Service, Prince Falade John Olumuyiwa, urged tanker drivers to be extra careful on the roads, especially anytime they were transporting high flammable materials.
