A gas station located in Umuoma Nekede Owerri-west LGA of Imo state has been gutted by fire, killing a family of five.
Freelanews reports that the incident which took place on Friday was triggered by a truck discharging cooking gas.
According to an eye witness, Princely Onyenwe, the truck caught fire while discharging gas and destroyed vegetation around.
“I put the blame on the carelessness of the operators of Tiengo gas station who ignored its leakage. The flaring of the gas quickly sent the fire to a nearby compound and burnt five people, four children and the wife of Mr. Onyekpandu Ekeada.
“Another residential house affected by the inferno is brothers and sisters lodge. Gas stations should not be sited around residential areas because of their inflammable nature. The Imo government should look into this,” he advised.
Onyemuche Anukam, a resident of brothers and sisters lodge, described the incident as unfortunate, appealing to the government to relocate the gas station elsewhere.
Mr. Onyekpandu, the father of the victims while speaking said that his family was seated outside the compound around 9pm when the incident took place and killed all his children including his wife.
He cried to the state government to come to his rescue, lamenting that he had lost all he lived and struggled for in life.
He gave his children’s names as Precious, Chidera, Miracle, Izunna and their mother, Marcellina.
It was further learned that the Deputy Governor of Imo state, Prof. Placid Njoku visited the site and consoled the bereaved family.
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