How Fuel Tanker Burnt Nine to Death, Destroyed Properties in Lagos

 
Tragedy struck early on Wednesday in Lagos, as a fuel tanker explosion resulted in the death of nine people and destroyed many properties in the Apapa area of the state.

The fire that accompanied the explosion resulted in the destruction of a new generation bank, three houses and 10 vehicles -five trucks, four buses and one car - and two motorcycles.

 
The driver of the articulated vehicle, which was said to be conveying 33,000 litres of premium motor spirit, better known as petrol, reportedly lost control of the tanker, somersaulting and spilling its content around the Berger-Suya area of Apapa.

Though the fire was put out by men of the state Fire Service and their federal counterparts before dawn, the tragedy could not be averted as the tanker was said to have burst into flames immediately after it somersaulted.

 
As the burning fuel flowed, it flowed into houses and cars along the ever-busy road. The bank and the houses were razed completely.

 
Director of Fire Service in the state, Mr .Rasak Fadipe confirmed the incident, saying three commuter buses suspected to be loaded with passengers were burnt, while 28 spare parts shops and goods inside were destroyed.

 
'The spillage caused all the vehicles to be running helter-skelter', he said. 'The passengers that were in the vehicle, every one of them fled. Unfortunately, some of them were caught up in the flame while they were trying to escape'.

Fadipe said when he received the emergency call, he quickly deployed three fire trucks from Sari-Iganmu, Isolo, and Ojo; and each of these fire trucks carried 10,000 litres of water but that on arrival, his men met the tanker laden with 33,000 litres of PMS gushing out.

 
General Manager of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Dr. Femi Oke-Osanyintolu also confirmed the incident, saying the victims were burnt beyond recognition.

 
At the time of this report, he said he was still at the scene with his men, carrying out rescue operations.

 
In his own reaction to the incident, spokesperson of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Ibrahim Farinloye said the explosion said the fire spread to the four houses, and that four commercial buses were all burnt.

 
He confirmed that the disaster occurred at Cement Bus Stop, along Mile 2-Apapa Expressway. 'The petrol tanker laden with 33,000 litres of PMS somersaulted and caught fire, claiming lives and destroying vehicles and buildings', he said.

 
Tragedy struck early on Wednesday in Lagos, as a fuel tanker explosion resulted in the death of nine people and destroyed many properties in the Apapa area of the state.

The fire that accompanied the explosion resulted in the destruction of a new generation bank, three houses and 10 vehicles -five trucks, four buses and one car - and two motorcycles.

 
The driver of the articulated vehicle, which was said to be conveying 33,000 litres of premium motor spirit, better known as petrol, reportedly lost control of the tanker, somersaulting and spilling its content around the Berger-Suya area of Apapa.

Though the fire was put out by men of the state Fire Service and their federal counterparts before dawn, the tragedy could not be averted as the tanker was said to have burst into flames immediately after it somersaulted.

 
As the burning fuel flowed, it flowed into houses and cars along the ever-busy road. The bank and the houses were razed completely.

 
Director of Fire Service in the state, Mr .Rasak Fadipe confirmed the incident, saying three commuter buses suspected to be loaded with passengers were burnt, while 28 spare parts shops and goods inside were destroyed.

 
'The spillage caused all the vehicles to be running helter-skelter', he said. 'The passengers that were in the vehicle, every one of them fled. Unfortunately, some of them were caught up in the flame while they were trying to escape'.

Fadipe said when he received the emergency call, he quickly deployed three fire trucks from Sari-Iganmu, Isolo, and Ojo; and each of these fire trucks carried 10,000 litres of water but that on arrival, his men met the tanker laden with 33,000 litres of PMS gushing out.

General Manager of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Dr. Femi Oke-Osanyintolu also confirmed the incident, saying the victims were burnt beyond recognition.

At the time of this report, he said he was still at the scene with his men, carrying out rescue operations.

In his own reaction to the incident, spokesperson of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Ibrahim Farinloye said the explosion said the fire spread to the four houses, and that four commercial buses were all burnt.

He confirmed that the disaster occurred at Cement Bus Stop, along Mile 2-Apapa Expressway. 'The petrol tanker laden with 33,000 litres of PMS somersaulted and caught fire, claiming lives and destroying vehicles and buildings', he said.

Tragedy struck early on Wednesday in Lagos, as a fuel tanker explosion resulted in the death of nine people and destroyed many properties in the Apapa area of the state.

The fire that accompanied the explosion resulted in the destruction of a new generation bank, three houses and 10 vehicles -five trucks, four buses and one car - and two motorcycles.

The driver of the articulated vehicle, which was said to be conveying 33,000 litres of premium motor spirit, better known as petrol, reportedly lost control of the tanker, somersaulting and spilling its content around the Berger-Suya area of Apapa.

Though the fire was put out by men of the state Fire Service and their federal counterparts before dawn, the tragedy could not be averted as the tanker was said to have burst into flames immediately after it somersaulted.

As the burning fuel flowed, it flowed into houses and cars along the ever-busy road. The bank and the houses were razed completely.

Director of Fire Service in the state, Mr .Rasak Fadipe confirmed the incident, saying three commuter buses suspected to be loaded with passengers were burnt, while 28 spare parts shops and goods inside were destroyed.

 
'The spillage caused all the vehicles to be running helter-skelter', he said. 'The passengers that were in the vehicle, every one of them fled. Unfortunately, some of them were caught up in the flame while they were trying to escape'.

Fadipe said when he received the emergency call, he quickly deployed three fire trucks from Sari-Iganmu, Isolo, and Ojo; and each of these fire trucks carried 10,000 litres of water but that on arrival, his men met the tanker laden with 33,000 litres of PMS gushing out.

 
General Manager of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Dr. Femi Oke-Osanyintolu also confirmed the incident, saying the victims were burnt beyond recognition.

At the time of this report, he said he was still at the scene with his men, carrying out rescue operations.

In his own reaction to the incident, spokesperson of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Ibrahim Farinloye said the explosion said the fire spread to the four houses, and that four commercial buses were all burnt.

He confirmed that the disaster occurred at Cement Bus Stop, along Mile 2-Apapa Expressway. 'The petrol tanker laden with 33,000 litres of PMS somersaulted and caught fire, claiming lives and destroying vehicles and buildings', he said.