Nine dead, 54 vehicles burnt in Lagos tanker fire

According to several reports, At least nine people died in the Lagos tanker fire, four injured and 54 vehicles razed after a petrol tanker fell on the Otedola Bridge in Berger, Lagos.

The tanker fire incident which occurred around 5 pm yesterday, caused serious traffic snarl in and out of the state.

It was gathered that emergency workers had a tough time accessing the scene as a result of the traffic and crowd. The tanker, laden with Premium Motor Spirit, had fallen while ascending the bridge outward Lagos, The Nation reported.

According to witnesses, the tanker spilt its content backwards, prompting most of the occupants of the vehicles behind it to flee to safety.

Another eyewitness said the accident occurred around 5 pm.

 “I was in a commercial bus heading towards the Mowe area of Ogun State. The bus was beside the tanker.

“There was traffic and when it cleared a little, the bus driver manoeuvred his way to the front. We were about a few vehicles away from the tanker, when we heard the sound of an explosion.

“The fuel from the tanker spilled on the expressway and all the vehicles at its back went up in flames. People ran for dear life. There was confusion everywhere.”

However, the nine dead persons were caught up in the inferno, as the positions of their bodies showed they were also trying to run away.

According to the General Manager, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) Adesina Tiamiyu, two of the injured persons were in critical condition.

He said:

“A tanker exiting Lagos lost control while climbing the Otedola Bridge and spilled its content backwards. This caused a fire outbreak and 54 vehicles were affected.

“Nine bodies were recovered and four injured people. Two of the injured were in critical condition. They have all been moved to the hospital.

“We are removing the burnt vehicles from the road in order to ease traffic congestion. We advice people travelling to Ibadan or outside Lagos to use alternative routes.”

Commander, Rapid Response Squad (RRS) Tunji Disu, an Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) told The Nation that they had rough time controlling the crowd, appealing to residents to stop overcrowding disaster scenes.