Scene of the incident. Photo: LASEMA
Two men sustained second- and third-degree burns and were hospitalised after a tanker conveying about 33,000 litres of diesel fell from Otedola Bridge in Lagos and caught fire on Monday.
The Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, Dr Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, said preliminary reports indicated that the tanker fell from the bridge before bursting into flames beneath it.
In a statement, Oke-Osanyintolu said LASEMA activated its Emergency Response Plan following a distress call and deployed its response team to the scene.
He said, “Preliminary reports indicate that a tanker conveying approximately 33,000 litres of diesel fell off the Otedola Bridge and subsequently caught fire.
“The swift and professional intervention of the LASEMA Paramedics and the Lagos State Ambulance Service ensured effective pre-hospital management of the two adult male victims who sustained varying degrees of burns, classified as second- and third-degree burns.
“The victims were stabilised at the scene and promptly evacuated for further medical treatment.”
According to him, officers of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service and the NNPC Fire Service were already battling the inferno when the LASEMA team arrived.
He added that the agency cordoned off the affected area, conducted a risk assessment and provided operational support to prevent the fire from spreading to nearby properties and infrastructure.
In a separate statement, the Director of Public Affairs and Enlightenment Department of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, Adebayo Taofiq, said the agency’s emergency response team worked with other responders to rescue the two severely burnt victims from the danger zone.
He added that the LSFRS conducted firefighting operations to contain the blaze, prevent further casualties and protect surrounding infrastructure.
“The injured victims were subsequently evacuated by the LASEMA Rescue Unit to the Lagos State Accident and Emergency Centre, Toll-Gate, where they were admitted for immediate medical attention,” Taofiq said.
Commending the emergency responders, LASTMA General Manager, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, praised their promptness and professionalism, noting that their coordinated efforts facilitated the rescue and evacuation of the victims.
Bakare-Oki also wished the injured men a speedy recovery and emphasised the importance of cooperation among emergency agencies in responding to road traffic incidents.
Taofiq said LASTMA remained committed to enforcing traffic regulations, ensuring efficient traffic management and coordinating emergency operations across the state.
He urged motorists, particularly operators of heavy-duty and articulated vehicles, to conduct regular mechanical inspections, comply with safety standards and adopt responsible driving practices to prevent avoidable road crashes.
Meanwhile, Oke-Osanyintolu announced that the fire had been completely extinguished and traffic flow restored along the Otedola Bridge corridor.
He attributed the successful operation to the coordinated efforts of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, LASEMA, the Federal Road Safety Corps, LASTMA and the Lagos State Ambulance Service.
He urged motorists and other road users to exercise caution, maintain safe speeds and cooperate with traffic managers deployed along the route.
PUNCH Metro reported on Friday that five people were feared dead in separate explosions in Edo and Rivers states, while at least 31 others, including a pregnant woman, sustained injuries.
The incidents also resulted in the destruction of houses, shops and other properties worth millions of naira.
In Rivers State, a gas pipeline explosion in Aleto community, Eleme Local Government Area, reportedly injured at least 20 people and destroyed about 50 houses.
In Edo State, a tanker explosion in Oluku, Ovia North-East Local Government Area, left 11 people, including a pregnant woman, with varying degrees of burns, while five others were feared dead.