The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) has confirmed a tanker fire under the Otedola Bridge along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
The agency’s Permanent Secretary, Dr Olufemi Damilola Oke-Osanyintolu who confirmed the incident on Monday, October 19 said the fire has been extinguished, with traffic flow restored along the corridor.
According to him, two adult men rescued from the incident sustained second and third-degree burns and were evacuated for further medical treatment.
According to him the fire involved a fallen tanker conveying 33,000 litres of diesel.
In the statement, LASEMA said the fire was contained through the coordinated efforts of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, its response team, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) and the Lagos State Ambulance Service.
“The Agency is pleased to inform the public that the fire explosion resulting from a fallen tanker conveying thirty-three thousand litres of diesel under the Otedola Bridge has been successfully curtailed,” the statement reads.
LASEMA said its paramedics and the Lagos State Ambulance Service provided pre-hospital care to the two victims, stabilising them at the scene before evacuating them for further treatment.
According to the agency, firefighting operations have been completed, while dampening operations to prevent the fire from reigniting were 80 per cent complete at the time of the update.
It added that the fallen tanker would be recovered and evacuated from beneath the bridge after the dampening exercise to ensure the safety of the area.
“The State Government is happy to announce that traffic flow along the Otedola Bridge corridor has been fully restored,” the statement said.
However, the agency urged motorists to exercise caution, maintain safe speeds and cooperate with traffic managers deployed along the route.
The agency reaffirmed the Lagos State Government’s commitment to protecting lives and property through prompt emergency response and collaboration among relevant agencies, adding that further updates would be provided as necessary.
