There was fear and pandemonium on Tuesday, July 19, 2022, when a diesel-laden tanker exploded and destroyed several vehicles at Mile 2, in the Otto-Wharf area of Lagos State.
According to media reports, the incident was said to have occurred around 3 pm at an articulated vehicle motor park in the community.
Several video clips currently circulating online about the incident show several vehicles burning as fire service officials battled the inferno.
While confirming the incident, the Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Dr Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, affirmed that the agency activated its response plan after receiving a distress call about the incident.
“Upon arrival at the scene by the agency response team, a fire outbreak from a fuel tanker and drums was encountered. LRT, LRU FIRE alongside Lagos Fire and Federal Fire are currently battling the inferno to contain it,” he said.
The incident was also confirmed by the Senior Special Assistant to the Lagos State Governor on Media, Mr Jubril Gawat, who shared pictures of emergency officials responding to the situation on his Twitter handle.
“The Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service is presently combating intense Fire at an articulated Motor Park, Otto Wharf, Mile 2, Lagos which resulted from a tanker carrying diesel that exploded and resulted in inferno reported at 3:44 pm,” he stated.
However, the Deputy Head of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Ogabi Olajide, in a statement, said although there were no casualties, the disaster was avoidable.
“Preliminary investigation reveals that the avoidable disaster stemmed from welding works on the diesel tanker resulting in an explosion. The fire involved quite a number of tankers, peddler trucks, and various sizes of storage tanks and drums, all stocked with diesel.
“The public is hereby assured that the situation is under control as the spread of the fire has been stopped and poses no further threat,” he said.
Watch the video of the incident as posted by Instablog9ja below
