Last night, yet another tragedy unfolded in Lagos, as an unspecified number of fuel tankers and vehicles were consumed by a massive fire in the Ijora-Apapa area of the state. The exact count of casualties remains unknown at this time.
According to an eyewitness, the incident occurred around 7:30 p.m. As of the time of the report, the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service and other emergency responders had not yet arrived at the scene of the fierce blaze.
Disturbing videos circulated on social media, depicting panicked individuals attempting to contain the fire’s spread in the densely populated vicinity.
In a subsequent statement, the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service confirmed the incident, disclosing that they were actively involved in firefighting operations at Costain, near Ijora 7-Up.
A tanker fire was raging at the Lagos Quadrapont Bridge by the National Arts Theatre, Iganmu.
Both the Sari Iganmu and Ilupeju fire brigades were collaborating to subdue the unrelenting fire. Further updates were promised.
Earlier in the day, a harrowing incident took place as a fuel-laden tanker overturned and pinned a 14-seater bus owned by a passenger transport company on the Otedola Bridge in the Berger area of the state.
This unfortunate event prompted local residents to siphon fuel, despite the immense dangers involved in doing so.
Reportedly, the large vehicle lost control while transporting diesel from Lagos to the Capital Oil Filling Station, situated along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, significantly disrupting traffic.
Emergency response teams, including the Lagos State Fire Service, were promptly on the scene to extinguish the flames and prevent a potential catastrophe.
The Lagos State Fire Service confirmed the incident via their official handle, indicating that they were addressing a fuel spill from a 33,000-liter tanker.
The same tanker had trapped the 14-seater company bus, but thankfully, all three occupants were safely evacuated without injuries or fatalities.
In a regrettable turn of events, despite public safety campaigns discouraging such actions, opportunistic individuals were observed attempting to siphon spilled fuel, impeding the ongoing rescue efforts.
