Police authorities in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have confirmed that six people lost their lives, and fourteen vehicles were destroyed following an explosion at Karu Bridge on Wednesday.
The incident, which occurred along the busy Abuja-Nyanya-Keffi Road, caused widespread panic among residents of the nation’s capital.
In a statement released shortly after the incident, FCT Police Command spokesperson Josephine Adeh explained that the explosion resulted from a trailer losing control and crashing into a stationary vehicle caught in traffic. The subsequent impact set off a violent fire that quickly engulfed 14 vehicles.
“Panic ensued as bystanders and motorists scrambled to escape the flames,” Adeh’s statement noted. “Emergency responders arrived swiftly at the scene, battling thick smoke and extreme heat to rescue those trapped.”
Six victims were pulled from the wreckage and rushed to a nearby hospital, but sadly, they were confirmed dead by medical staff. Their bodies have been deposited at Karu General Hospital Morgue.
With the joint efforts of the police, fire service personnel, and other security agencies, the inferno was eventually brought under control, and normal traffic resumed.
“The FCT Police Command extends its deepest condolences to the families of the victims and assures the public that a thorough investigation is underway to determine the cause of this tragic incident,” Adeh said.
This explosion follows a disturbing trend of such incidents across the country. Just last week, a similar explosion at Otedola Bridge in Lagos claimed two lives and destroyed 12 vehicles. A gas-laden tanker had burst into flames, causing a massive fire that also damaged a nearby building. Emergency responders managed to control the fire, but three others were injured in the blaze.
