No fewer than 20 persons were reportedly burnt to death on Friday after a tanker loaded with Kerosene fell and caught fire.

The accident which claimed lives of all passengers happened at Njaba bridge, Orlu road in Imo State. According to an eyewitness, the tanker that was headed to Owerri, suddenly lost control while climbing the hill on the Njaba Bridge and started rolling backward before it burst into flames, which engulfed on an eighteen seater bus that was following behind and burnt the whole occupants to death.

The state commandant of FRSC, Kayode Aremu, who confirmed the tragedy to newsmen on Friday, said he had yet to be briefed about the casualty figure.

Aremu said, “My men are at the scene of the incident on rescue mission and controlling traffic.

“We have not ascertained the cause of the accident and we don’t have the casualty figure yet.” On his part, the state Police public Relations Officer, Andrew Enwerem, said, “Immediately we learnt of the incident, the command quickly contacted professional fire fighters.

“They are at the scene battling to extinguish the inferno. We don’t have the casualty figure yet. The situation is being managed,” Enwerem added.