NO fewer than 13 people were injured, while 25 vehicles were burnt on Thursday, in Lagos after a tanker conveying gas, exploded at Mobolaji Bank Anthony Way, Ikeja.
The incident occured at about 10.32 pm, opposite Sheraton Hotels and Towers, Ikeja.
The Acting Coordinator, National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, Lagos, Ibrahim Farinloye and Director General, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Dr. Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, have confirmed the incident.
According to eye witnesses’ account, the explosion was alleged to have been caused by unconfirmed leakage while on motion.
It was gathered that the resulting fire travelled wildly to the premises of Ogun State Property Investment Company (OPIC) Plaza which housed different commercial outfits including Chinese Restaurant.
Citizens Compass gathered that four of the victims who were critically injured have bern transferred to Burn Centre, General Hospital Gbagada at about 2.30 am on Friday.
It was gathered that the incident attracted a mammoth crowd despite the time of the incident but the Commissioner of Police, Lagos Command, Hakeem Odumosu was at hand to apply crowd control mechanism and normalise the situation for a successful operation.
The incident was confirmed by the Acting Coordinator, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Lagos State, Ibrahim Farinloye and Director General, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Dr. Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu.
Farinloye said the first responders at the scene were Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), State Fire Service, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) among others.
He said, “The fire was put out at about 0030hours after the concerted efforts of five fire trucks from Lagos State Fire Service and two trucks from LASEMA Response Unit,”
He confirmed that 13 people were injured so far, “The initial search and rescue activities revealed that 13 persons sustained various degrees of burns. Out of this, nine are males while four are females.
The affected victims are being attended to at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) for First Aid while they will be transfered to Burn Centre, General Hospital, Gbagada, Lagos State.
“Preliminary
assessment on vehicles damaged indicated that about 25 were burnt as at now. Comprehensive post disaster assessment on the extent of general damages would be done later today.”
