26 VEHICLES BURNT TO ASHES AS TANKER EXPLODED IN LAGOS

An explosion from a tanker loaded with petroleum product rocked Amuwo Odofin area of Lagos, Monday night, resulting in fire that destroyed 26 trucks.

There were also indications that the scene of the fire incident was an illegal fuel depot.

It was gathered that petroleum products were being trans-loaded into trucks at the depot located at C40, Alakuso Avenue, when the explosion occurred.

Efforts by staff of the undisclosed company to contain the fire failed. It took the intervention of the Lagos State Fire Service to put out the fire.

The affected vehicles include 24 fuel tankers, a caterpillar and one 505 car owned by Interland Transport Company.

A staff of a transport company close to the area, who gave his name as Chionye Nwabueze, told Vanguard: “At 9.35p.m., a deafening sound jolted everyone, causing us to run in different directions for safety because we thought it was a bomb.

“Unimaginable damage would have been done if the fire was not brought under control because there were over 50 fuel tankers within and around the premises when the explosion occurred.”

Confirming the incident, Director, Lagos State Fire Service, Mr. Rasaq Fadipe, said three fire trucks contained the fire, adding that his office was not informed that there was a fuel depot in the area. 

He said: “Fire Service ought to be in the know of such a fuel depot in the event of cases such as this. But we were not aware of a fuel depot there.

“However, we were able to save the administrative block and some other fully-laden tankers from being consumed by the fire.”

He disclosed that the incident was the 50th distress call received that same day. At press time the company was under lock and key.

Meanwhile, another fire outbreak occurred at Odo Iya Alaro area of Maryland, Lagos, after a truck loaded with 33,000 litres of petroleum product spilled its content on the ground.

Men of the Lagos State Fire service reportedly contained the situation.