Disaster: Three Rescued After Tanker Explosion on Lagos-Apapa Expressway

A tragic accident was averted on Sunday at the Iyana-Isolo axis of the Oshodi-Apapa Expressway as emergency responders successfully rescued three individuals after a tanker explosion. The incident, which occurred around 1:05 p.m., involved a multiple-vehicle crash that triggered a fire and brought the busy highway to a standstill.

According to a statement from the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, the accident was a result of a chain of events that began when a tanker, carrying 45,000 litres of diesel, collided with a commercial minibus. The impact caused the tanker to be hit by two other trailers—a flatbed and a 40-foot container truck—resulting in an immediate explosion and a raging inferno. Eyewitnesses described a chaotic scene of thick smoke and flames, causing panic among commuters and residents.

The Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, with support from the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) and the Nigeria Police Force, was swiftly deployed to the scene. The teams worked in a coordinated effort to subdue the fire and prevent its escalation to a greater tragedy. The Controller General of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Margaret Adeseye, confirmed that while the three victims sustained varying degrees of injuries, no lives were lost, a testament to the rapid response of the emergency agencies.

The rescued individuals were immediately transported to a nearby hospital for medical treatment. Authorities attributed the accident to excessive speed on the part of the tanker driver and have urged motorists to exercise extreme caution on the roads to prevent such occurrences. As of the time of this report, efforts were ongoing to evacuate the wreckage from the expressway to restore the flow of traffic. The incident serves as a grim reminder of the dangers posed by the transportation of inflammable products on Nigerian roads.