A tragic truck explosion near Karu Bridge along the Abuja-Keffi expressway has claimed the lives of at least 10 individuals, with 30 others left injured. The accident, which occurred on Wednesday evening, involved a Compressed Natural Gas (CNG)-laden truck and multiple other vehicles.
Abdulrahman Mohammed, Acting Director General of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Emergency Management Department (FEMD), reported that five victims were confirmed dead at the scene, while four others were burned beyond recognition. Two of the rescued victims later succumbed to their injuries, raising the death toll to 10.
The injured have been rushed to several hospitals across the FCT, including Karu General Hospital, Customs Hospital, National Hospital, and Aso Clinic. According to the FEMD, the victims are receiving treatment for varying degrees of burns and injuries sustained during the explosion.
While the FCT Police Command initially confirmed six deaths, the updated figure from the FEMD revealed a higher death toll, with eight bodies deposited at Karu Hospital Morgue, one at Asokoro District Hospital, and another at National Hospital. Some victims have been transferred to other medical facilities such as the Gwagwalada Teaching Hospital, Federal Medical Centre in Keffi, and Cedarcrest Hospital Abuja for further treatment.
READ ALSO, Death Toll Rises in Abuja Gas Tanker Explosion
The explosion has sparked widespread concern among road users, with many calling for immediate safety measures to be enforced on the Abuja-Keffi expressway. The FCT Emergency Management Department has issued a warning for motorists to exercise extreme caution when using the route, citing the high number of recent accidents along the expressway. There is growing public pressure for improved road safety measures, better vehicle inspections, and infrastructure upgrades to prevent such tragedies from occurring in the future.
READ ALSO, AAUASU Presents Prizes To Winners Of Sampraise Poetry Competition
In response to the incident, local authorities have promised a thorough investigation into the cause of the explosion.
