By Williams Anuku Abuja
Anambra State Governor, Willie Obiano has instituted a panel of inquiry to look into the remote causes that led to fire incident around Upper Iweka axis in Anambra state.
The inferno which resulted from a tanker laden with petrol was believed to have claimed some lives, including a nursing mother and her child.
A statement by the Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Don Adinuba on Thursday, gave indications that the governor was not pleased with how the incident was managed by officials of the fire service, a development that may attract
queries from the state government.
Meanwhile the state government has expressed deep sympathy to the families of the fire incident.
Obiano has also directed owners of properties affected by the tragic accident, including shop owners, to report at the Conference Room of the Secretary to the State Government on Monday, October 21, 2019, to see how the Anambra State Government can be of help to them.
The Governor also pledged to foot the burial expenses of the woman and child who died in the accident.
The statement noted that the governor settled for a probe panel after he got reports that despite the early arrival of the fire service personnel, they were unable to contian the fire before it escalated .
The statement reads, ” the accident occurred when a tanker laden with premium motor spirit, popularly known as petrol, fell into a ditch and began to spill its contents.
“A ball of fire resulted from this incident and quickly spread. Men of the Anambra State Fire Service arrived on the scene in good time with their new equipment. For some reason, however, they were unable to put off the inferno.
“The angry mob on the scene prevented other fire trucks, including one from neighbouring Asaba in Delta State, from getting to the scene.
“A panel will be set up immediately to determine the cause of the accident, why the firemen could not put out the fire and how the condition of the victims can be ameliorated”.
