(GRAPHICAL PHOTOS) TRAGIC: PREGNANT WOMAN, 9 OTHERS BURNT TO DEATH AS BUS GOES UP IN FLAMES

Tragedy struck in Effurun, Delta State, yesterday, as a Delta City
14-passenger town service commercial bus caught fire, killing 10
passengers including a pregnant woman.
Four people, including the driver, survived. The bus was heading
towards Enerhen Junction.
Vanguard gathered that the bus with number plate 14 C-74 DT burst into
flames at about 3.04pm along the ever busy PTI road near Emasodje
junction.
The accident caused serious vehicular traffic as officials of the
FRSC, military men and Policemen retrieved the burnt corpses.
According to a survivor, who does not want his name mentioned, tragedy
struck immediately after a woman with a four-litre jerry can of petrol
entered the front seat of the bus against the agitation of the
passengers.
In his word: "I boarded the bus at PTI junction and we were heading to
Enerhen Junction. The driver picked a woman who was carrying four
litres of what was suspected to be petrol. We protested as the woman
boarded.
"Within three minutes, what we heard was an explosion. I managed to
escape through the trunk of the bus. I am short of words. My escape
was a miracle."
Mr. Ben Igbakpa, Commissioner for Transport, who visited the scene of
the accident, was speechless.
He told Vanguard, when he finally found his voice, "I was told by a
survivor that the fire was caused by a woman who boarded the bus with
fuel in a four-litre jerry can.
"He told me that some complained, but she was allowed to seat in the
front. I learnt that 10 persons were burnt beyond recognition, with
the driver and three others surviving.
"We will intensify our monitoring. We call on the operators to talk to
the drivers to be very cautious. It is bad that someone will board a
bus with fuel, it is regrettable.
"We mourn this unfortunate incidence, most difficult is that no one
can ascertain who died now because it is a town service, it does not
carry a manifest. The state government is sad that such a tragic thing
has happened."
On his part, Mr. dickson Amromawhe, state Co-Ordinator, Federal Road
Safety Commission, FRSC, Delta command said: "There were four
survivors. I got a call that a Delta City bus was on fire along PTI
road, so we mobilised and came here.
"I, however, find it offensive that youths restricted the fire service
truck that came for rescue operation. I was informed that on arrival,
irate youths started chasing them away that they were late. This is
not the first time that they are doing this.
"Most painful is that even the policemen who came first were injured,
one of he officers' head was broken by a stone thrown by the youths.
Why are they doing this?
"Someone is coming for rescue and you are chasing him away. The state
government should do something about this, it is not helping the
victims at all."
At press time, the charred remains of the victims were packed in sacks
ready to be taken to Central Hospital Ekpan morgue.