The Federal Capital Territory Emergency Management Department (EMD) has confirmed the tragic deaths of eight people as a result of a devastating accident involving a Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) truck and multiple vehicles near Karu Bridge on the Abuja-Kwffi Expressway on Wednesday evening.
In a press briefing at the scene of the accident on Thursday, the Acting Director General of the FEMD, Abdulrahman Mohammed, confirmed the tragic incident.
The news of the incident was initially reported by the FCT Police Command, who confirmed, in a statement by the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Josephine Adeh, that six people had lost their lives and 14 vehicles were consumed by the fire.
The FEMD’s Acting Director further revealed that out of the six victims four were unrecognizable due to severe burns sustained in the fire that erupted during the accident. Adding that two of the victims initially rescued tragically passed away on Thursday morning, increasing the total number of casualties to eight.
He said, “Five people were taken dead from the scene yesterday. Out of the people that were injured, one died, making six. Then this morning, when I asked my people to go round, they discovered that two had already died again, making eight. Four of them from yesterday were burnt beyond recognition.”
He added that 30 others were receiving treatments across various hospitals in the FCT.
Mohammed revealed that eight were receiving medical attention at the Karu General Hospital, 10 were being treated at the Customs Hospital, 11 were hospitalized at the National Hospital, and one victim was being cared for at the Aso Clinic.
He explained, “And the places where you would find people are Customs Hospital, we have National Hospital and Aso Clinic. I have instructed them to go to Asokoro Hospital and see whether they carried some people there again. But now, this is the information I have at this time.”
