Two burnt to death, scores injured in Lagos tanker explosion

Two persons were on Wednesday burnt beyond recognition after a petrol tanker exploded at Barracks Bus Stop, along Mile 2 on Badagry Expressway, Ojo in Lagos State.

The Nation gathered the 33,000 litre fuel- laden tanker exploded after it fell due to a bad portion of the road in the area.

It was learnt when the tanker fell, a container and three other vehicles ran into the spilled contents on the road and ignited fire.

While some of the motorists escaped, two people were burnt beyond recognition and five vehicles including the tanker and a container was also burnt.

Passersby ran helter shelter with many injured in the process while scampering for safety.

The incident was said to have occurred around 8am leading to zero vehicular movement on both sides of the expressway for over an hour.

The Nation learnt around 10am, the fire was under control and vehicular movement had been restored to the area following intervention of the officials of the Lagos State Fire Service, the Response Team of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) and other security officials.

A passerby who was at the scene while the fire was burning, Hon Ralph Nwafor, said the tanker loaded with petroleum product fall in front of Ojo military cantonment, adding that the entire road for vehicular movement to and fro mile 2 was blocked during the inferno.

He said that the intervention of the uniformed men, Lagos State Fire Service and the Response Unit of LASEMA, helped to combat the fire and to clear the traffic.

According to him: “I saw two human bodies burnt beyond recognition; asides the fuel tanker, a container and other vehicles were also burnt.

“Many people were injured as a result of the fear caused by the fire. People ran up and down in search for safety. Those that were on Okada, were particularly injured.”

Acting Director Lagos Fire Service Rasaki Musibau, who visited the accident scene, warned motorists to avoid leaving their vehicles on the road unattended to especially in the night in order to avert Fire and safe lives.

NAN