A fire broke out at an MRS filling station located along Numan Road, opposite Jezco filling station, near the Yola International Airport on Tuesday, consuming two fuel tankers.
As of the latest reports, the two tankers were completely destroyed by the flames, with fire service personnel arriving at the scene to control the blaze.
However, the emergency responders appeared to be struggling with a lack of water to fully contain the fire.
Channels TV reported that the road leading into Yola, the state capital, was blocked due to a large crowd of onlookers who had gathered to watch the fire, disregarding the potential dangers.
Security personnel have since arrived to maintain order and ensure public safety.
This incident follows a series of similar tanker explosions across the country in recent months.
In January 2025, a tanker explosion along the Enugu-Onitsha Expressway killed 11 people after the vehicle’s brakes failed, causing it to spill its fuel and ignite.
Also in January 2025, at least 86 people lost their lives when a group of individuals tried to collect fuel from a fallen tanker in Niger State, while in Agbor, Delta State, five people died in a separate incident when a petrol tanker caught fire.
In October 2024, a fuel tanker explosion in Jigawa State claimed over 170 lives, and in September 2024, 59 people were killed in Niger State when a fuel tanker collided with a truck carrying passengers and cattle.
