Benin–Auchi Road tanker blaze: petrol spill ignites drains; several feared dead, homes damaged, traffic diverted.

Tragedy struck along the busy Benin-Auchi Road in Edo State on Wednesday evening, December 17, 2025. A tanker fully loaded with Premium Motor Spirit (petrol) crashed, resulting in a catastrophic fire outbreak.

Our sources confirm that the accident led to a significant loss of life. Although the exact number of fatalities is still unclear, eyewitnesses report that several people died in the incident.

The crisis deepened when the spilled petrol flowed into roadside drainage channels. This caused the flames to travel rapidly along these underground paths, acting like a fuse and spreading the fire to connected areas.

The inferno did not spare surrounding communities. Several residential buildings were caught in the blaze, suffering extensive damage. The scale of the destruction is still being assessed by emergency crews.

The aftermath has severely disrupted movement. Traffic on the vital Benin-Auchi Road is at a standstill. Authorities are urging motorists to completely avoid the area and use alternative routes for their safety and to allow access for responders.

Emergency services are currently on the ground managing the situation. We await an official statement from the state police and fire service to provide further clarity on the casualty figures and the cause of the crash.