Many Injured, Vehicles Burnt As Tanker Explodes In Lagos

Scores of persons were on Thursday injured following a gas tanker explosion in Lagos State.

Many persons on Thursday night sustained varying injuries while properties, including vehicles, were destroyed after a gas tanker exploded in Lagos.

EKO HOT BLOG gathered that the tanker exploded around 10:32pm along Mobolaji Bank Anthony Way, Ikeja in Lagos.

The tanker was said to have exploded as a result of unconfirmed leakage while on motion inward Ikeja.

Sources disclosed that the inferno, which resulted from the explosion was wind transported to the premises of Ogun State Property Investment Company (OPIC) Plaza beside Sheraton Hotel, a facility that housed many businesses.

The fire was said to have been eventually put out around 12:30am with the help of seven fire trucks from Lagos Fire Service and LASEMA Response Unit.

It was gathered 13 persons, comprising nine males and four females sustained varying degrees of burns and were moved to Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) for first aid.

It was learnt that four critically injured persons were later evacuated to the Burns Centre, General Hospital Gbagada around 02:30am on Friday.

No fewer than 25 vehicles were razed by the inferno which reportedly led to the evacuation of all guests at Sheraton Hotel.

EKO HOT BLOG gathered that heavy traffic congestion grounded movements on all entrances/exits routes to Ikeja, trapping motorists for several hours.

Some of the trapped motorists along Mobolaji Bank Anthony Way blamed the slow response by emergency services for escalation of the inferno.

As gathered by EKO HOT BLOG, the incident was confirmed by the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA).

The Agency noted that all emergency workers were at the scene working to contain the situation.

The Director-General of LASEMA, Dr. Femi Oke-Osanyintolu, said information gathered at the scene revealed the fire started as a result of an explosion when the gas tanker was moving inward Ikeja.

“The fire spread to Opic plaza and affected the building and vehicles parked at the car park. Effort to put out the fire is ongoing. All the first responders are on the ground.

“Preliminary assessment on vehicles damaged indicated that about 25 were burnt.

“Comprehensive post-disaster assessment on the extent of general damages would be done later on Friday,” Oke-Osanyintolu said.

EKO HOT BLOG further learnt that the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, (CP) Hakeem Odumosu, was at the scene and took charge of crowd control throughout the operation.

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