The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, LASTMA, has rescued 17 passengers, including a driver, following a fire outbreak involving a fully loaded Compressed Natural Gas, CNG-powered commercial Hiace bus which erupted into flames following a gas explosion at Berger Bus Stop along the Lagos-bound section of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
This was disclosed in a statement signed by Adebayo Taofiq, Director, Public Affairs and Enlightenment Department of LASTMA.
According to the statement, the incident involved 18 occupants travelling from the Mowe-Ibafo axis towards Lagos when the fully loaded vehicle, with registration number EKY 798 YK, reportedly caught fire, triggering panic among passengers and other motorists plying the busy expressway.
In a swift and professionally coordinated emergency response, LASTMA personnel promptly mobilised to the scene, successfully evacuating and rescuing 17 occupants, including the driver, without any injuries.
Regrettably, one male passenger, who was seated at the rear section of the vehicle, sustained severe burn injuries during the inferno. He was immediately evacuated by LASTMA personnel and conveyed to the Lagos State Trauma and Emergency Centre, Toll Gate, for urgent medical intervention.
Officers of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service swiftly deployed their firefighting equipment to extinguish the raging inferno and prevent its further escalation.
Personnel of the Ojodu Police Division also provided security support, maintaining law and order and securing the accident scene throughout the duration of the rescue and firefighting operations.
Commending the responsiveness and inter-agency collaboration demonstrated during the incident, the General Manager of LASTMA, Mr Olalekan Bakare-Oki, applauded the Authority’s personnel for their courage, operational dexterity and prompt intervention, which culminated in the successful rescue of 17 passengers without injuries.
Bakare-Oki emphasised that the incident once again underscores the importance of rapid emergency response, effective inter-agency synergy and the deployment of adequately trained personnel in mitigating the potentially devastating consequences of road-related incidents.
He further urged commercial transport operators, particularly those utilising CNG-powered vehicles, to prioritise regular professional inspections, strict adherence to prescribed safety standards and comprehensive maintenance of their vehicles’ gas storage and delivery systems.
The General Manager reiterated LASTMA’s commitment to safeguarding human lives, sustaining seamless traffic movement and strengthening strategic collaboration with relevant emergency response agencies across Lagos State.
He also expressed appreciation to the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service and the Nigeria Police Force for their support and collaborative intervention during the rescue operation.
