Six persons were killed Wednesday night when a truck carrying Compressed Natural Gas, CNG, canisters lost control and crashed into multiple vehicles at Karu Bridge, Abuja, triggering a massive explosion and multiple vehicle collisions.

Public Relations Officer of the FCT Fire Service, Ibrahim Mohammad, explained that the truck was en route to Nyanya from AYA when its brakes failed, leading to the deadly crash. The impact ignited a fire that engulfed several vehicles, causing casualties.

The Federal Capital Territory Emergency Management Department also confirmed that the explosion at Karu Bridge, which caused a gridlock between Kugbo and Nyanya in Abuja on Wednesday, was caused by a Compressed Natural Gas, CNG, truck.

Mr Mark Nyam, Head of the Forecasting, Response, and Mitigation Division of the department, disclosed this in a statement in Abuja.

In the statement by the department’s Head of Public Affairs, Mrs Nkechi Isa, Nyam said the incident, involving the CNG truck and other vehicles, occurred at around 7:14 p.m.

Nyam explained that the accident happened when the driver of the CNG truck lost control and collided with other motorists, leading to multiple explosions.

An unidentified eyewitness in a video clip shared by FEMD said many people were being burnt alive.

“Oh! Look at human beings on the ground. This is Karu bridge, people are burning,” he said, and flee when another gas canister exploded.

Nyam disclosed that some of the victims of the incident had been taken to the State House Clinic for treatment.

He explained that the victims were taken to the facility because Asokoro Hospital and the National Hospital were no longer able to accommodate them.

Although details of the casualties were not provided, Nyam stated that the search and rescue teams from FEMD, the Federal Fire Service, FCT Fire Service, and the Nigeria Police were on the ground to rescue other victims.

Other agencies at the scene, he said, included the National Emergency Management Agency and the Federal Road Safety Corps.

The Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, reports that the gas explosion triggered multiple-vehicle collision under the killing six dead while 25 others were injured.

The FRSC spokesperson, Olusegun Ogungbemide disclosed that the crash involved 18 vehicles, including two articulated trucks, two buses, one jeep, and 11 cars.

Several of the vehicles were severely damaged, with some catching fire following the collision.

Ogungbemide attributed the accident to brake failure, which triggered a chain reaction of crashes.

The incident occurred at around 6:58 p.m., with emergency responders, including FRSC, the Red Cross, Fire Service, and military personnel, quickly arriving at the scene to provide aid.

The FRSC reported that of the six victims who died, four were burned beyond recognition.

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The injured were promptly transported to local hospitals for medical treatment, while the deceased were taken to the mortuary.

Senior FRSC officials, including Sector Commander Chorrie Muta’a and Unit Commander in charge of Nyanya and Karu, were on-site to assist with the rescue operation.

FRSC Corps Marshal Malam Shehu Mohammed also visited the location to assess the damage and offer condolences to the families affected.

In light of the tragedy, Ogungbemide urged drivers to prioritize vehicle maintenance and conduct regular safety checks before embarking on journeys.

The FRSC continues to work with various agencies to promote road safety and reduce such incidents through heightened awareness and enforcement of traffic regulations.

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