By Bose Adelaja
CITIZENS COMPASS —Many road users escaped death by whiskers while vehicles were trapped on Thursday night when two petrol tankers exploded around Sari Iganmu area of Lagos State.
Vehicles affected were two tankers, tipper truck,trailers, three cars and micro-mini busses (Korope) among others.
The incident occurred at Lagos Quadrapont Bridge, by National Arts Theater, Sari Iganmu, inward Costain.
Ir occurred few hours after a tanket-laden with diesel overturned on the Otedola bridge.
A private bus with three occupants onboard was trapped by the truck but the occupants were rescued unhurt.
However, emergency operations battled the fire to a stand still and there were no records of injuries or deaths as motorists hastly abandoned their vehicles and scamper for safery. Confirming the incident, the Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Dr Olufemi Damilola Oke-Osanyintolu, said, “Upon arrival at the incident scene, a pile up of vehicles including two petrol tankers was found to be ablaze.
How explosion occurred —LASEMA
” Further investigations revealed that one of the tankers was ascending the bridge when it rolled back onto the other tanker and vehicles. The collision impact resulted in the fire.
Many trapped
” The number of people trapped in the inferno could not be ascertained now but preliminary assessments revealed that,”
Giving the breakdowns of the affected vehicles, he said, “three container laden trucks, two tankers laden with unknown but highly inflammable contents, a tipper truck laden with gravel, a flat bed trucks and three cars are in the pile up.
” A total of four fire trucks are on ground alongside LASTMA, LASEMA and Nigeria Police,” said Osanyintolu.
In her Situation Report, the Director, Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Margaret Adeseye said, “While the earlier incident was successfully completed having evacuated the tanker and bus without resulting to fire and having the road open to motorists.
” Same cannot be said with the Iganmu Fire outbreak which now involved three tankers (two with fuel contents and an empty one) and a micro-mini bus (Korope) and tricycle after deferring all warning measures.” Casualty yet unknown (if any) as firefighting continues with Ajegunle Fire Station joining the fray. Further update to follow.”
Earlier, she said, “In a related development, a tanker Fire is being combated at the Lagos Quadrapont Bridge, by National Arts Theater, Iganmu as Sari Iganmu and Ilupeju Fire Crews combine efforts to tame the raging Fire.”
