The Federal Road Safety Corps has confirmed that at least nine persons died in the petrol tanker fire around Otedola Bridge on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway on Thursday evening.
The horrific incident happened after the petrol tanker’s brakes failed, causing it to spill its content. This soon became an inferno that led to loss of lives and property.
The FRSC also said in its update that the victims were burnt beyond recognition. There were four other serious injuries.
According to the FRSC, 54 vehicles were burnt. There were 45 cars caught in the inferno, along with five buses, two trucks, one tricycle and the tanker itself.
An Exploded Tanker with so many Vehicles burnt on the Lagos Ibadan Express way just by Otedola Bridge INW Berger to Ibadan [18:00Hrs] pic.twitter.com/xzrJOWzG90
— LASTMA (@followlastma) June 28, 2018
The accident, outward Lagos, happened around 5.30pm today.
According to Bisi Kazeem, spokesman of the FRSC, the cause of accident was break failure suffered by the petrol laden tanker.
A joint rescue operation involving FRSC, LASEMA, NPF, RRS, NSCDC, Lagos State Fire service, LASTMA was in full gear within 10 minutes of the accident.
