Tanker conveying petrol exploded on Saturday evening on Otedola bridge on the outbound service on Lagos-Ibadan express way.
The vehicle reportedly exploded around few minutes to 6pm, causing panic on the expressway as many vehicles made U-turn in a bid to avoid being engulfed by fire. Some passengers were also seen alighting from vehicles hurriedly.
Dark flames could be seen leaping into the air, clouding the evening sky as vehicles continued to move on other lanes of the expressway.
Many passengers were also stranded at the Alausa Secretariat and toll gate bus stops.
Some motorists who shared videos of the incident lamented that they had spent over one hour in traffic.
According to Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, no injuries were recorded in the incident but the extent of property damaged is still being determined.
A statement signed by LASEMA chief, Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, reads;
The Agency has responded and upon arrival of the Agency’s officials at the incident scene, it was observed that a tanker conveying an unknown amount of diesel fell spilling its content which resulted to an explosion that affected a truck conveying goods.
The statement added that rescue and recovery operations were ongoing.
On his part, Acting Zonal Coordinator, South West Zonal Office of the National Emergency Management Agency, Mr Ibrahim Farinloye told NAN the accident involved a tanker, a haulage truck and a Toyota Camry 1999 model carrying, six members of the same family.
He expressed that the tanker was fully loaded with 44,000 litres of AGO (diesel) and was moving toward Berger axis of the expressway when one of its tyres suddenly burst into flames.
Farinloye said people in the immediate vicinity of the accident had told the driver of the tanker to stop, but he reportedly tried to reverse the vehicle, thereby colliding with the other vehicles.
He noted that the driver of the truck, the family of six and the tanker driver and his assistant all escaped unhurt.
Farinloye, however, said the section of the road where the accident occurred was cordoned off to allow emergency response agencies put out the fire.
See some photos and videos from the scene of incident below;
Who cursed Otedola Bridge?pic.twitter.com/mS3Hmg3Hv0
— CYBORG (@Apholerbee) December 19, 2020
WARNING avoid #Otedolabridge
Fire and exploding tank pic.twitter.com/Cvf1T1LsdY— Lara.ng (@Laradotng) December 19, 2020
Over 30minutes later#otedola#otedolabridge pic.twitter.com/X5mPA6opfm
— OluwayemisiAdesanya (@yemisiadesanya) December 19, 2020
A petrol tanker has exploded at Otedola Bridge. Avoid that route if you can. #Lagos pic.twitter.com/zJlEALOuEA
— bisuclef (@bisuclef) December 19, 2020
