A tanker explosion caused a massive fire on Otedola Bridge in Lagos on Tuesday evening. The incident, which happened around 8:08 p.m., involved a petroleum-laden tanker and led to widespread panic as the fire quickly spread to nearby buildings and vehicles.
The Director of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Margaret Adeseye, confirmed that the fire affected a church, a bungalow, and four vehicles before firefighters managed to bring it under control.
Eyewitnesses described the terrifying moment the explosion occurred. The tanker, a 30-ton DAF Gas Truck, was navigating the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway when it suddenly burst into flames. Motorists who were nearby immediately tried to flee, with some making sharp U-turns while others abandoned their cars in fear of getting caught in the fire.
Emergency responders arrived swiftly at the scene to tackle the situation. Officials from the Lagos State Emergency Management Authority (LASEMA), the State Fire Service, and the National Emergency Management Authority (NEMA) worked together to put out the fire and prevent further destruction.
Margaret Adeseye, in an official statement, said: “The Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service is currently attending to a fire resulting from a tanker accident outward of Otedola Bridge, Omole, Lagos, at about 8 p.m. While firefighting operations are ongoing, there have been no recorded casualties, with further updates to follow.”
LASEMA’s Head of Public Affairs, Boss Okunbo, also provided a brief update, saying: “It is some sort of explosion. Awaiting preliminary report. LASEMA’s Tiger Response Team is at the location.”
