21 CARS, 5 BIKES BURNT AS FUEL TANKER EXPLODES IN LAGOS

FESTAC TOWN, Lagos, Nigeria – There was pandemonium in Festac Town, Lagos today as many commuters scamper for dear life when a tanker laden with about 33, 000 litres of diesel exploded on the bridge linking Mile 2 Estate with Festac Town.

So far there is no casualty, but reports say many were injured in stampede in the process of rushing out of affected buses and cars to escape the raging inferno.

Speaking on the development, General Manager, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, LASEMA Mr. Adesina Tiamiyu said a total of 21 vehicles and 5 motorbikes were comsumed by the fire.

“The inferno of the exploded tanker affected a total number of 18 cars, 3 commuter buses and 5 bikes”, he said, adding that the agency’s rescue/recovery equipment is on ground to ensure the burnt vehicle are taken off the road and to restore normalcy on the road”, he added.

He said the agency received distress call which was passed to the LASEMA Response Team on 13th December 2017 concerning the tanker on fire at festac link bridge.

“Upon arrival of LRT to the scene of incident at about 12:45pm, It was revealed that a tanker loaded with 33,000 litres AGO (DIESEL) detached from its truck and fell by it’s side,it then later exploded due to an aftermath ignition of a commuter bus. However, no life was loss but 1 adult male sustained minor injury”, he said.

According to him, the combined effort of the emergency responders (LRT, NIGERIA POLICE FORCE,LASG FIRE SERVICE, FEDERAL FIRE SERVICE AND LNSC) was able to put the fire out at 2:20pm this afternoon.Tiamiyu said proper investigation would be conducted on the incident.