A diesel-laden tanker on Monday afternoon fell from Otedola Bridge and burst into flames underneath the bridge inward Berger, causing panic and heavy traffic gridlock along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
It was learnt that the incident involved a 33,000-litre tanker.
According to the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), two casualties were recorded in the incident.
In an X post, LASTMA said, “A diesel-loaded tanker reportedly fell from Otedola Bridge, caught fire, and was engulfed in flames underneath the bridge inward Berger. Two casualties were recorded, while the incident has resulted in traffic congestion around the affected location.
“Firefighters are on the scene battling the inferno, while emergency responders are attending to the situation and making arrangements to convey the victims to the hospital. Meanwhile, our personnel are managing traffic around the affected corridor to ensure the safety of road users and minimise traffic disruption.
“Motorists are advised to exercise extreme caution when approaching the area and comply with the directives as emergency response operations continue.”
The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) also confirmed the incident.
Its spokesperson, Olawale Afolabi, said the agency received a distress call at about 4:24 pm and immediately deployed its Tiger team to the scene.
In its Emergency Incident Report, the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service said the fire involved a 33,000-litre tanker conveying petroleum products from a depot which fell between the inward and outward sections of Otedola Bridge.
The service said it received a distress call at 4:09 pm and firefighters from Alausa and Ikeja fire stations arrived at 4:16 pm and commenced firefighting.
“Through the prompt and coordinated intervention of the firefighters, the fire was successfully extinguished. Damping-down operations are ongoing to eliminate residual hotspots and prevent possible re-ignition,” the report stated.
The agency added that further details on the cause, casualties and property damage would be communicated as verified information becomes available.
LASEMA’s rescue unit was said to have extricated the two severely burnt victims and evacuated them to the Lagos State Accident and Emergency Centre at Toll Gate.
The Controller General of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Mrs Margaret Adeseye, reaffirmed the service’s commitment to protection of lives and property and urged motorists to exercise caution and comply with safety instructions from emergency responders.
Otedola Bridge, a major link on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, has over the years recorded recurring tanker-related fire incidents, raising fresh concerns over safety of fuel haulage along the corridor.
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