Two people have been confirmed dead as a tanker conveying petroleum product exploded on Monday at Cele area on Apapa-Oshodi Expressway, Lagos.
The fuel tanker had run into a stationary truck which led to the explosion around 5pm. A loud explosion was heard in the area as balls of fire envelop the atmosphere. The driver of the truck and a boy were said to have been consumed by the resultant inferno.
There was pandemonium at Cele area as people ran in different direction to avoid the raging inferno, which resulted in commotion and traffic gridlock on both sides of the expressway.
Several commercial buses and other motorists resorted to taking alternative routes to beat the traffic gridlock which extended to Iyana Isolo inward Cele on the expressway.
General Manager, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Michael Akindele confirmed that two people had died as a result of the explosion, saying that effort was on to combat the fire.
Spokesperson, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Ibrahim Farinloye said the tanker was conveying 33,000 litres of Premium Motor Spirit, PMS, when it exploded.
Director, Lagos State Fire Service, Rasak Fadipe said six fire trucks had been mobilized to combat the fire.
Fadipe, however, said the fire was put out around 7:40pm. Several shops were said to have been burnt in the area.
Copyright Ships & Ports Ltd. Permission to use quotations from this article is granted subject to appropriate credit given to www.shipsandports.com.ng as the source.
