A tanker laden with petrol on Tuesday fell along the Onitsha-Enugu Expressway between Toll Gate and Ogbunike Slaughter.

The incident happened at about 2:05 pm as the tanker driver was diverting to Ndumore Oil & Gas Filling Station along the expressway.

The cause of the incident was due to loss of control of the tanker by the driver.

The incident caused the Awka-bound lane to be cordoned, while vehicles were diverted to the Onitsha-bound lane, thereby causing heavy traffic on the axis.

“The men of the state fire service arrived promptly with their truck and fire fighters and immediately started spraying the arena with chemical foam.

Dr Martin Agbili, the State Fire Chief, said they received a distress call of a tanker with 33,000 litres of petrol falling while diverting to Ndumore Oil & Gas Filling Station along Onitsha-Enugu Expressway,.

“Immediately, we deployed our fire truck and firefighters to the scene which caused heavy traffic at the expressway.

“We thank God that the supposed fire outbreak which would have emanated from it was averted.

“There was no loss of life,” he said,