Three persons were confirmed dead, while eight others sustained injury during a fire accident at Emperor Hospital along Oko-Olowo-Jebba expressway in Ilorin, the Kwara state capital.
The incident, which occured on Monday afternoon, involved a petrol tanker (45,000 litres of PMS), a truck loaded with soft drinks, and a truck loaded with soybeans, according to the spokesperson of the state fire service, Hassan Hakeem Adekunle, in a statement on Monday night
He stated, "On Monday January 15, 2024, around 14:46 hours, the Kwara State Fire Service responded to a fire at Emperor Hospital along Oko-Olowo-Jebba expressway in Ilorin, Kwara State. The incident involved a petrol tanker (45,000 litres of PMS), a truck loaded with soft drinks, and a truck loaded with soybeans.
"The fire originated from a head-on collision between the petrol tanker, whose driver lost control, and the truck carrying soybeans. Tragically, three lives were lost, and eight injuries were recorded among the 20 individuals on board.
"Despite the severity of the situation, the firemen successfully contained the fire, preserving the hospital and nearby buildings."
Meanwhile, expressing deep sorrow, the Director of the Kwara State Fire Service Prince Falade John Olumuyiwa emphasized the need for road users to prioritize safe driving practices, issuing a warning to adhere to safety measures consistently.
More images from the scene: