Posted by By CHRIS ANUCHA, GABRIEL DIKE and THERESA ONWUGHALU on
Vehicular and human movements were halted for many hours on Tuesday at Second Rainbow busstop, on Oshodi-Apapa expressway, Lagos, as a fuel laden tanker fell and went up in flames.
Vehicular and human movements were halted for many hours on Tuesday at Second Rainbow busstop, on Oshodi-Apapa expressway, Lagos, as a fuel laden tanker fell and went up in flames.
Though no life was lost, nine trucks, a bus and a Honda car were also burnt.
The nine trucks and the bus were displayed for sale in front of a soft drinks factory, while the Honda car, with registration No. MQ 323 KJA allegedly caused the inferno.
Daily Sun gathered that the driver of the tanker with registration number XA 118 KEK, belonging to Best Oil, lost control before it fell.
The tanker, taden with diesel, was said to be heading towards Oshodi before the incident.
Daily Sun gathered that the inferno would have been prevented if the driver of the Honda, which was coming behind the tanker, had obeyed officials of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), who tried to flag him down.
The driver of the Honda car, which was also burnt, allegedly ignored the LASTMA officials, but as he tried to speed past the fallen tanker, the car engine caught fire and quickly spread to the tanker.
Occupants of the tanker had already alighted and were standing by the roadside before it burst into flame.
Efforts by LASTMA officials to invite firefighters to put off the inferno before its escalation failed as there was no response for more than two hours after the fire outbreak.
Some residents of Jakande Estate and staff of companies located in the area also made spirited efforts to put off the fire but to no avail.
However, the Lagos State Fire Service from Alausa later arrived at about 4.49 pm, while two Jeeps loaded with policemen arrived at 4.50 p.m to provide security.
Another fire vehicle belonging to a private firm, Central Fire Ibafon, Apapa, arrived at the scene at about 4.57 pm to complement the efforts of firemen from Lagos State Fire Service, which had exhausted the water in the tank within 20 minutes of their arrival.
On hand to ensure that there was no break down of law and order was the Area ‘E' commander, Festac, Mr. Habila Joshak, who arrived the scene at about 4.54 pm. He told Daily Sun that his men were on ground to protect life and property. He also confirmed that there were no casualties.
Joshak described the response of the fire fighters as slow but gave reasons for their late arrival, which, according to him, included lack of water, petrol, far distance and traffic.
An official of LASTMA, Gbolahan R.S, told Daily Sun that he contacted the fire fighters as soon as the fire started and regretted that they were not there on time.
An eyewitness, Dibia Emenataobi, who claimed to be in the area when the incident occurred, described as disappointing the late arrival of fire fighters.
Seyi Aremo, a fashion designer, said: "I called the Federal Fire Service, Festac, but was shocked when the officer who picked my call said there was no water in the truck and that I should try the Surulere Fire Service."