Two dead, six maimed, several properties destroyed in Otedola bridge tanker explosion

Abdullateef Fowewe

The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency has confirmed that two persons died and six others sustained injuries in the gas tanker explosion that occurred under the Otedola Bridge late Tuesday.

LASEMA’s Permanent Secretary, Dr Femi Oke-Osanyintolu while giving an update about the catastrophe on Wednesday, also confirmed that 12 vehicles, eight tricycles and a building were destroyed by the incident which happened around 8pm on Tuesday.

A 30 tonnes DAF truck without a registration number, loaded with Automated Gas Oil (AGO) fell on its side while negotiating a bend inward Omole.

As soon as it fell, an explosion followed with fireballs spiralling into a nearby Redeemed Christian Church of God, a bungalow and a mechanic village.

Oke-Osanyintolu noted that the deceased were both male adults, stressing that three of the six injured persons suffered severe burns and were moved to the hospital while the other three received immediate medical attention.

He said, “At 20:14pm, LASEMA’s Tiger Response Team arrived to find a 30 ton DAF gas tanker overturned and engulfed in flames, spreading fire to nearby vehicles and houses.

“Safety precautions were implemented. Fire containment measures were established to prevent further spread. Search and rescue operations continued.

“The fire was put out at 10:02pm on Tuesday. The fatality has been handed over to the Lagos State Environmental Health Monitoring Unit (SEHMU), while victims were receiving medical treatment.

“LASEMA Response Team (LRT), LASEMA Pre-Hospital Care Unit, Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), Nigeria Police Force and the Lagos State Ambulance Service (LASAMBUS) were agencies that participated in the operation.”