A petrol tanker loaded with 45,000 litres of Premium Motor Spirit, PMS, overturned on Thursday at Isimi in Epe, Lagos State, causing its contents to spill onto the road.
The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, LASEMA, confirmed the incident in a statement issued by its Permanent Secretary, Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu.
The tanker, identified by registration number T-18212LA, reportedly overturned while trying to navigate around a stationary Ford pickup van, KJA-13FJ, which had broken down on the carriageway.
LASEMA explained that one of the tanker’s rear tyres slipped into a pit during the manoeuvre, causing the vehicle to lose balance and crash onto the pickup van.
“Preliminary investigation revealed that the tanker, while attempting to manoeuvre past the stationary Ford pickup van which had developed a mechanical fault along the carriageway, had one of its rear tyres slip into a pit, causing it to overturn and fall onto the pickup van, leading to spillage of its highly inflammable contents onto the roadway.”
Despite the fuel spill, LASEMA said there were no casualties or injuries.
Emergency responders arrived after receiving a distress call at about 10:19am and immediately began efforts to secure the area and prevent a fire outbreak.
The response involved LASEMA’s LRT Beta Whales Team, the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, LASTMA, Lagos Neighbourhood Safety Corps, FRSC and the police.
Firefighters covered the tanker and surrounding area with chemical foam while traffic was diverted and the affected section temporarily closed.
The agency said the petrol remaining in the damaged tanker was later transferred safely into another tanker.
“Through seamless coordination and professional execution, the transloading of the remaining PMS from the accidented tanker to an empty tanker was successfully completed without incident,” it said.
The tanker and pickup van were subsequently removed from the road and taken to Ketu Police Station.
LASEMA confirmed that normal traffic had resumed after the operation.
Oke-Osanyintolu commended the emergency agencies for their coordinated response and urged tanker operators and other motorists to ensure their vehicles are properly maintained before using the roads.
“The swift response and synergy of all emergency responders whose professionalism averted what could have resulted in a major disaster.”
He also advised drivers of vehicles transporting combustible materials to obey traffic rules and exercise extra caution.
“The Permanent Secretary appeals to motorists, particularly drivers of heavy-duty vehicles and tankers conveying combustible products, to ensure their vehicles are in good mechanical condition, adhere strictly to traffic regulations, and exercise utmost caution on Lagos roads.”
Residents were also encouraged to use the 767 or 112 toll-free lines to report emergencies and road incidents.