NOW: 13 people died in Kogi petrol tanker accident

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) on Saturday said the death toll in the Friday petrol tanker accident in Felele area of Lokoja, Kogi State, has risen to 13.

The state FRSC Sector Commander, Mr. Olusegun Martins, told the Media in Lokoja that three other victims died Friday night.

He said that a staff of the Kogi State Polytechnic, Lokoja, was one of them.

He said the relations of dead victims have started identifying them, but six of them were burnt beyond recognition.

According to him, eight other injured victims of the accident are still receiving treatment at the intensive care units of the Federal Medical Centre and the State Specialist Hospital, Lokoja.

He said investigation into the cause of the accident was underway.

It was reported that 10 people lost their lives immediately in the accident which occurred at about 1:45pm on Friday at Felele area of Lokoja.

The accident occurred as a result of a head-on collision involving a bus and a tanker laden with 33,000 litres of petrol.

Eyewitnesses said the collision ignited a fire which engulfed the two vehicles and a commercial tricycle.

Most of the victims were occupants of the 18-seater bus believed to be owned by Delta Line.

The bus was coming from Abuja end of the road, while the tanker was coming from Okene end.