A tanker laden with about 40,000 litres of petrol exploded in the early hours of Thursday morning on Ladipo road, Oshodi-Apapa Expressway in Lagos State.
It was gathered that the driver was conveying the petrol-laden truck to a destination in the state when he suddenly lost control of the vehicle, causing the truck to overturn around 9.30am.
Immediately the truck overturned, it was learnt that the petrol spilled on the road and reportedly caused the explosion on the Apakun Bridge in the Iyana Isolo area of Oshodi.
To escape unhurt, commuters and business owners scampered from the scene of the incident as the area went up in flames.
Director-General, Lagos State Management Agency, Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, said the fire incident occurred after the body of the truck detached from the head, adding that emergency responders had stormed the scene of the incident to salvage the situation.
He stated;
The agency has activated its emergency response plan after a fuel tanker caught fire after the body detached from the vehicle head.
Responders are on the scene to extinguish the fire. Motorists are to use alternative routes. Further updates will be communicated.
Firefighters were at the scene of the incident and battling the fire, as at the time of filing this report.
Officials of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority were also on the ground diverting vehicles to alternative routes.
Watch some videos of the fire incident below;
“@gboyeezy: Tanker explosion on oshodi apapa express way just after oshodi. Avoid the route. @Gidi_Traffic pic.twitter.com/jq6sbADA3W
— (@Gidi_Traffic) January 7, 2021
As e dey hot:
Tanker don summersault for Toyota Bus stop, along Oshodi Apapa Expressway.
* No casualty yet.
We go dey update you wit more on di mata.Video credit: @Abu_Muminah/Twitter pic.twitter.com/GhQ1i0Ht5e
— BBC Pidgin (@bbcnewspidgin) January 7, 2021
Just In: Tanker explosion rocks Oshodi-Apapa expressway pic.twitter.com/DgKgbEZj2T
— Gistlovers.blog1 (@Gistloversblog1) January 7, 2021
