By Abimbola Akindunbi &
Kayode Afolabi,
Ore

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What could have been another tragic  explosion  was on Monday averted on the inter-change bridge in Ore, Ondo State, after a fully loaded petrol tanker tumbled, causing traffic gridlock for several hours on the popular highway.

The  unmarked truck, while trying to negotiate a bend on the road, reportedly tumbled while the petrol started gushing out and flowing towards the road under the Ore bridge.

It took the intervention of officials of the State Water Corporation, who  reportedly sprayed  the affected petrol tanker and its environs with water, to prevent any ugly incident, which could be catastrophe.

For several hours, motorists and travelers plying the Ore-Lagos/Benin express way were held in traffic jam, as the lane  from Benin  was barricaded to prevent vehicles driving on the flowing petrol.

Our Correspondents, who were at the scene observed that the petrol  tanker belonging to Matrix, was coming from the Ondo axis, and while negotiating a bend leading to Lagos road, tumbled.

One of the officials of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), controlling the traffic, told The Hope Metro that the incident happened about 3am.

The officer, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said their men were on ground to control the diversion, as motorists coming from Lagos and Benin highway had to struggle to drive through  a side of the road.

He said they had been trying to ease free flow of movement since it occurred, but several trucks plying the road had made it difficult.

Another source, who spoke with The Hope Metro lamented that similar incidents had happened severally on the same road.

The Ore Unit Commander of FRSC, Mr Sikiru Alonge, while confirming the incident in a phone interview said efforts were made to ensure that the incident did not escalate.

“Having recieved a distress call about the incident, we swung into action immediately to ensure the safety of lives and properties.

He said all efforts to contact the Fire Service in Ondo proved abortive as they were not reachable.

“Earlier, we contacted the Fire Service in Ore. But when they were not available, we decided to look for an alternative to transload the fuel.”