At least one person has died, with three others injured, in a tanker explosion on the Otedola Bridge in Lagos.
The tanker, laden with Premium Motor Spirit popularly known as petrol, burst into flames on Tuesday night, a situation that forced residents and motorists to scamper for safety.
The Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, LASEMA, Femi Oke-Osanyintolu, confirmed the casualty figure in a statement.
“Three adult male victims with severe burns have been rescued and transferred to Gbagada General Hospital burns unit while the remains of an adult male were also recovered.
“All hands remain on deck to extinguish the flames. Motorists are urged to take alternative routes where possible,” Oke-Osanyintolu said.
Earlier, Oke-Osanyintolu said the agency’s Tiger Response Team was on the scene working to bring the situation under control.
He added that the road has been cordoned off, urging motorists to take alternative routes.
In the same vein, the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, LASTMA, confirmed the accident in a statement.
LASTMA, in a post on X, said the fire affected nearby structures, including a church, residential house, and mechanics’ parks at Otedola under bridge, adjacent to CMD Road, adding that emergency responders were on ground to handle the situation.
“A tanker has fallen and caught fire, affecting nearby structures, including a church, residential house, and mechanics’ parks at Otedola Under Bridge, adjacent to CMD Road,” the statement read.