There was panic at Aroma junction Awka, Anambra State capital on Wednesday when a tanker carrying a substance suspected to be inflammable fell and began to spill its content.
The incident caused passengers, drivers, hawkers and others around the place to scamper for safety.
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Many were seen running towards the state secretariat road, some Ifite road while others ran towards the Eke Awka and Government House road direction due to the fear that the substance might catch fire.
But a few minutes later, the driver of the truck, Mr Kingsley Ogu, miraculous came out of the vehicle and explained that he was carrying palm kernel oil used for soap making and not a petroleum product.
Ogu, who said he was coming from Amansea axis of Enugu/Onitsha Expressway to Onitsha, said he was trying to avoid hitting a bus when he veered off the road.
“As I tried to avoid the bus, my tyres accidentally climbed the pavement by the road and suddenly resulted in the truck falling down,” he said.
Ogu said that his truck was carrying 33, 000 litres of palm kernel oil for industrial use and was heading to Onitsha.
NAN reports that less than 15 minutes after the incident, a team of firefighters from the state arrived at the scene and began to pour water on the substance which spilt on the road and spread towards Dr Alex Ekwueme Square, Awka.
When contacted, Mr Martin Agbili, the Director, Anambra State Fire Service, did not pick up his calls. (NAN)
