Swift Emergency Response Prevents Casualties In Otedola Bridge Tanker Explosion.
A major explosion rocked Otedola Bridge in Lagos last night, igniting a massive fire after a petroleum tanker overturned. The incident, which occurred at 8:18 p.m., involved a 50,000-litre tanker carrying petroleum products that toppled while making a turn.
Despite the scale of the fire, no casualties had been confirmed as of press time. The Director General of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Dr Olufemi Damilola Oke-Osanyintolu, assured that a coordinated emergency response had been activated to manage the situation.
The Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service Director, Margaret Adeseye, revealed that the blaze spread to a church, a nearby bungalow, and four vehicles. Panic ensued among motorists, with many making desperate U-turns or abandoning their vehicles to avoid a repeat of the 2018 tragedy, which claimed at least 12 lives and destroyed 54 vehicles at the same location.
Emergency responders, including LASEMA, the State Fire Service, and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), worked tirelessly to contain the fire and prevent further damage. Adeseye confirmed that firefighting operations were ongoing, with no reported casualties so far.
LASEMA’s Head of Public Affairs, Boss Okunbo, described the incident as “some sort of explosion” and noted that the agency was awaiting a preliminary report. Meanwhile, LASEMA’s Tiger Response Team remained on-site, ensuring safety and containment efforts continued effectively.
Authorities have urged the public to remain calm while investigations into the cause of the explosion are carried out.
