Tanker explosion on Otedola Bridge razes church, houses, vehicles
By Jeffrey Agbo
A devastating explosion rocked Otedola Bridge in Lagos on Tuesday night, triggering a massive fire that engulfed multiple structures and vehicles.
The blast, which occurred at approximately 8:08 pm, involved a tanker loaded with petroleum products.
According to Margaret Adeseye, Director of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, the fire spread rapidly, consuming a church, a nearby bungalow, and four vehicles. Emergency responders swiftly arrived at the scene to contain the blaze and prevent further destruction.
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Eyewitnesses reported that the tanker, identified as a 30-tonne DAF Gas Truck with an unknown registration number, was navigating the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway when the explosion erupted. Panic ensued as motorists scrambled to flee, with many making frantic U-turns or abandoning their vehicles in fear of being caught in the inferno.
As of the time of reporting, emergency teams were still battling the fire to prevent it from spreading to other nearby structures. Among the agencies responding to the crisis were the Lagos State Emergency Management Authority (LASEMA), the Lagos State Fire Service, and the National Emergency Management Authority (NEMA).
Providing updates on the situation, Adeseye stated: “The Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service is currently attending to a fire resulting from a tanker accident outward Otedola bridge, Omole, Lagos at about 8 pm. While firefighting operation is ongoing, there has been no record of casualty. Further update to follows.”
Similarly, Boss Okunbo, Head of Public Affairs at LASEMA, commented: “It is some sort of explosion. We are awaiting the preliminary report. LASEMA’s Tiger Response Team at location.”
