A fully loaded tanker overturned and exploded on the busy Apapa–Oshodi Expressway, Iyana-Isolo, Lagos, on Sunday afternoon, plunging the area into chaos.
Eyewitnesses said the tanker, which reportedly lost its brakes, veered off the road, rammed into a commercial bus, and toppled into a roadside gutter before bursting into flames. The resulting inferno consumed the tanker, a container trailer, and part of the expressway, forcing commuters to flee for safety.
Footage obtained by Channels Television showed the driver lying motionless on the ground with injuries, while his co-passenger also sustained wounds. Witnesses explained that the driver lost control while attempting to park, leading to a fuel spill and subsequent explosion.
A witness, Oladiran Olanrewaju, a truck driver, said: “The tanker was fully loaded, and to avoid crushing people, the driver lost control and it toppled. It took about 45 minutes before the fire service arrived.”
Emergency responders, including the Lagos State Fire Service, LASEMA, LASTMA, police officers, and Ikeja Electric officials, battled the blaze and diverted traffic to alternative routes. LASTMA later confirmed that the crash involved a flatbed trailer, a container truck, and a commercial bus.
Vice Chairman of Mushin Local Government, Tunbosun Haruna, who addressed journalists at the scene, confirmed there were no fatalities and commended the swift response of emergency agencies.
Authorities advised motorists and residents to avoid the area until the fire was completely extinguished.