Three members of the same family met their untimely death in an early morning fire which razed shops and houses when a fully loaded petrol tanker fell on Ago-Sasa road and spilled its contents which subsequently sparked up fire in Idi Iroko, in Ipokia Local Government Area of Ogun State.
It was gathered that the victims were a mother and two of her children who were completely burnt beyond recognition. Fifteen (15) people were also affected by the inferno and 16 houses and shops razed in the area.
The inferno was as a result of a petrol tanker which burst into flames after it rammed into other tankers in the area.
It was gathered that the tanker fell along Ago-Sasa road and spilled its contents which was later gutted by fire.
Eye witness account claims that the family members were asleep when the fire started.
“It was a serious incident, we were already on bed when it happened. A tanker was moving into a nearby filling station to unload its contents when it fell and spilled its content and caught fire.
“It was so bad because it happened in the night when people were already asleep. A family of three was wiped out and about 15 people were seriously injured in the inferno,” he said.
It was also confirmed that a four year old last child of the family survived the incident and was receiving treatment at the General Hospital in the area.
Confirming the incident, the unit commander of Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), David Abiodun said a fully loaded petrol tanker marked LAGOS AAA 36 XA, lost control and rammed into two other tankers before it went up in flames.
“I think there was a spark from the tanker and then it caught fire. The two children and the mother were burnt beyond recognition,” he said.
The commander hinted that the fire service in Ipokia Local Government was contacted but the damage had been done before the fire could be quenched.