A petrol tanker carrying Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) burst into flames on Sunday at Iyana-Isolo, heading toward Oshodi in Lagos, causing panic and posing a serious threat along the busy route.
The tanker is said to have overturned while moving, triggering an explosion that engulfed at least four nearby parked trucks in flames.
According to eyewitnesses, the situation could have escalated into a major catastrophe if the fire hadn’t been brought under control swiftly.
Swift intervention by operatives of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, LASTMA, in collaboration with other emergency agencies, averted what could have become a large-scale tragedy.
The agency mobilised first responders, including the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, police officers from Aswani, Ilasa and Mushin divisions, as well as the Neighbourhood Safety Corps, to the scene.
According to LASTMA’s General Manager, Mr Olalekan Bakare-Oki, the fire was successfully brought under control after personnel cordoned off the affected road and diverted traffic away from the danger zone. He confirmed that reinforcements from adjoining zones were also deployed to boost the operation.
Bakare-Oki expressed relief that no lives were lost, attributing the outcome to the prompt coordination of agencies on the ground. He, however, cautioned drivers of articulated vehicles, tankers and heavy-duty trucks against reckless speeding, which preliminary findings linked to the cause of the accident.
He also advised residents to utilise LASTMA’s toll-free hotline (080000527862) to report traffic emergencies, assuring the public that the agency remains equipped to respond swiftly to incidents.
“LASTMA is committed to safeguarding lives and property while ensuring safe and sustainable traffic management across Lagos State,” he said.