One injured as diesel tanker bursts into flames on Abeokuta Expressway
A diesel-laden tanker overturned and burst into flames on Wednesday night along the Abeokuta Expressway inward Agege, leaving one person injured and sending motorists fleeing for safety. The Lagos State
A diesel-laden tanker overturned and burst into flames on Wednesday night along the Abeokuta Expressway inward Agege, leaving one person injured and sending motorists fleeing for safety.
The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) activated the state’s emergency response plan and deployed its Response Team to the scene after receiving multiple distress calls.
It said responders found the tanker, loaded to capacity with diesel, lying on its side and fully engulfed in flames. Preliminary investigations indicated that the driver lost control while navigating the busy expressway, causing the vehicle to topple and spill its cargo onto the roadway and drainage system.
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Eye witness accounts stated that the spilled diesel ignited instantly, sending fire racing along the drainage and thick smoke across the expressway. Motorists abandoned their vehicles as flames threatened nearby shops and residences.
The tanker was completely gutted, but the coordinated response prevented a major disaster. Emergency teams worked into the early hours to extinguish residual flames from diesel that had flowed into the drainage system.
Permanent Secretary of LASEMA, Dr. Olufemi Damilola Oke, said, “No life was lost. One adult male dispatcher sustained burns and has been taken to a nearby hospital. The fire has been contained, and surrounding properties were not affected.”
He added, “Our teams are clearing the area, securing the drainage, and ensuring there is no risk of re-ignition, while we carry out a full incident assessment.
Fire-fighters from the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service battled the blaze, while the police and officials from the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) sealed off the area and diverted traffic to prevent further accidents.
