A gas tanker explosion has claimed two lives and destroyed several properties along the Lekki-Epe Expressway in the early hours of Saturday.
The incident, which occurred at Tera Ahmed bus stop in Sangotedo, involved a collision between a gas tanker and a tipper truck.
According to the statement by the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, the emergency was reported at about 02:36 a.m., prompting a swift response from fire crews from Lekki Phase II, Oniru and Epe II stations.
The agency said the accident occurred when a speeding 20-tonne tipper truck travelling from the Epe axis rammed into a 30-tonne gas tanker that had stopped on the highway without pulling off the road.
The impact triggered a fire outbreak, which quickly spread to nearby structures, affecting three warehouses and ten roadside shops, including a gym and a generator house.
Firefighters, however, contained the blaze before it could spread further, saving a nearby petrol filling station, a fully loaded 33,000-litre Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) tanker, and other surrounding properties.
In an official update, the Controller General of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Margaret Adeseye, said, “The accident which was alerted at 02:36 wee hours Saturday saw Lekki Phase II, Oniru and Epe II Fire Stations of the Agency raised to the scene after it was reported that an oncoming speeding 20 tonnes tipper truck from Epe end rammed from behind into a stationed 30 tonnes gas truck that failed to pull over from the highway.”
She further detailed the extent of the damage.
“The resultant effects culminated into fire spreading to adjoining three warehouses and 10 roadside shops including a gym and generator house before the fire was put out, saving a Total Petrol Filling Station, its fully loaded 33,000 litres PMS tanker and a host of properties.”
She also confirmed casualties from the incident.
“After the blaze has been doused, three Sienna bus cars, one Toyota Corolla car and a forklift parked within the aforementioned properties were recovered, just as the tipper driver and his assistant, both male adults were also recovered dead while the gas truck driver escaped unhurt.”
According to her, efforts are ongoing to evacuate the affected trucks, while normal activities have resumed in the area.
“Efforts are ongoing to evacuate the remains of both trucks on the road as normalcy has returned to the scene of the accident,” she noted
