UPDATED: Two burnt as diesel-laden tanker falls from Otedola Bridge

Two people were critically burnt on Monday after a diesel-laden tanker fell from Otedola Bridge along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway in Lagos and burst into flames.

The incident caused panic in the area amid fears that the inferno could spread to nearby buildings and infrastructure.

The victims were reportedly occupants of the tanker, which allegedly lost control, skidded off the road, and plunged from the bridge.

ALSO READ: Police rescue Catholic priest, seven other kidnap victims in Benue

The spokesperson for the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), Adebayo Taofiq, confirmed the incident in a statement made available to the Nigerian Tribune.

Taofiq said the tanker erupted into a fierce inferno beneath the bridge, leaving the two victims with extensive burn injuries.

He said LASTMA’s emergency response team, working with other emergency management agencies, swiftly mobilised to the scene and rescued the victims from the danger zone.

“In a demonstration of commendable alacrity, operational dexterity and unwavering commitment to humanitarian service, LASTMA’s emergency response team, in concert with other relevant emergency management agencies, swiftly mobilised to the scene and successfully rescued the two severely burnt victims from the perilous situation,” he said.

According to him, the victims were subsequently evacuated by the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency’s Rescue Unit to the Lagos State Accident and Emergency Centre, Toll-Gate, for immediate medical attention.

Meanwhile, operatives of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service battled the inferno to prevent it from spreading and causing further casualties or damage to surrounding infrastructure.

Other agencies involved in the rescue and containment operations included the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency’s Rescue Unit, the Federal Road Safety Corps, the Lagos State Neighbourhood Safety Agency and police personnel from the Alausa Police Division.

The General Manager of LASTMA, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, commended the emergency responders for their swift intervention and conduct at the scene.

He also wished the two victims a speedy and complete recovery, stressing the importance of rapid emergency response, inter-agency collaboration, and the protection of human lives during road traffic incidents.