An unknown number of people are feared dead after a fuel tanker exploded at the Abuloma waterfron in Trans Amadi, Port Harcourt, reports have said.

The fuel tanker caught fire at about 9:45 a.m., the News Agency of Nigeria reports, but officials are yet to ascertain the number of casualties in the tragic accident.

Rivers State sector commander of the Federal Road Safety Commission, Dr. Kayode Olagunju, confirmed the incident, but said the fire was restricted to the water area.

An official of the National Emergency Agency in the state, Mr. Umesi Emenike, also told reporters that the cause of the fire accident is still unknown, but assured that firefighters were at the scene promptly.

Meanwhile another fuel tanker accident occurred also on Friday in Eneka in Obio/Akpor, the news agency reported.

On the Eneka incident, Emenike said, “The tankers are still burning and no casualty has been confirmed. The cause of the fire is still unknown and we are at the scene monitoring the situation of things to ensure the safety of lives and property.”

The spokesman for NEMA, Yushau Shuaibu, told the Punch that soldiers were on hand at the scene of the accident at Eneka and forcibly removed residents who attempted to scoop fuel.

However, some witnesses said some residents of the area scooped kerosene from a tanker that upturned.