The Nation Newspaper

Tag: tanker explosion

  • Eight die in tanker explosion on Lagos-Ibadan Expressway

    EIGHT persons were burnt to death yesterday when a container truck and a fuel-laden tanker exploded following an accident yesterday.

    The Nation gathered that the accident occurred near the Four Square Gospel Church Campground at  Ogunmakin on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

    Ogun State Fire Service, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Agency (TRACE) officials and the police laboured to rescue victims.

    TRACE Public Relations Officer Babatunde Akinbiyi said the fuel tanker was going to Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

    He said the dead were inside the  truck.

    Akinbiyi said: “Both vehicles were sharing a part of the expressway due to the on-going reconstruction on the other part of the road, both vehicles had a side-collision which triggered an opening in the tanker and fuel started gushing out from it. It later caught fire.

    “Eight persons from the truck are already confirmed dead.  Rescue operation is on-going by TRACE, FRSC, fire service and other security agencies.”

  • Four killed in tanker explosion on Lagos – Ibadan expressway

    Four killed in tanker explosion on Lagos – Ibadan expressway

    Four persons have been burnt to death while unspecified number of others were still trapped in a burning container truck following an tanker explosion when a truck bearing fuel collided with it on Tuesday.

    The Nation gathered that the accident occurred near the Four Square Gospel Church Camp ground at the Ogunmakin stretch of the Lagos – Ibadan expressway when the tanker loaded with Premium Motor Spirit(PMS) had a side collision with another carrying container full of passengers.

    It was further learnt that the impact of the collision ruptured a part of the fuel tanker and touched off a huge huge fire outbreak and explosion as fuel gushed out.

    Operatives of the Fire Service of Ogun State, Federal Road Safety Corps(FRSC), Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Agency(TRACE) and the Police laboured to rescue victims and clear the engendered traffic gridlock even as an emergency rescue equipment hurried to the scene by RCC, a construction firm, also battled to untangle the container from the burning fuel tanker.

    The Public Relations Officer of TRACE, Babatunde Akinbiyi, who confirmed the accident, said the fuel tanker was going to Ibadan while the one bearing container full of passengers, was heading towards Iwo road in Ibadan.

    Babatunde added four persons from the container died in the accident – cum tanker fire while others also got trapped.

    “Both vehicles were sharing a part of the expressway due to the on -going reconstruction on the other part of the road, both vehicles had a side-collision which triggered an opening in the tanker and fuel started gushing out from it.

    “Four persons from the container are already confirmed dead, while others are still trapped with rescue operation is on-going by TRACE, FRSC, Fire Service and other security agencies,” Babatunde said.

  • Two injured, 21 vehicles destroyed in tanker explosion

    Two injured, 21 vehicles destroyed in tanker explosion

    A fuel tanker exploded yesterday on the Festac Town Link Bridge in Amuwo Odofin, Local Government Area of Lagos State, wounding two persons and destroying 21 vehicles.

    Five motorcycles and many bags were also destroyed in the fire.

    The injured are Kenneth Odogwu, and one Olumide, who was said to have passed out after inhaling fume.

    Eighteen of the vehicles  were said to have just been  imported by a dealer, Chinedu Nwafor, who displayed them in his shop beside the bridge.

    The Nation gathered that an articulated red tanker, bearing 33,000 litres of diesel, was ascending the bridge from First Avenue when it lost track, detached from its truck and fell on its side.

    The tanker was said to be coming from Apple Junction and going to FESTAC Town.

    According to witnesses, the fuel tanker rolled backward, fell and spilled all its content on the road.

    The tanker, a witness said, caught fire when a bus driver attempted to reverse upon sighting it.

    Another witness,  Mohammed Zango, who is a motorcyclist,  said: “It was around 12pm. The tanker was climbing the bridge but before we knew it, it started going back. It seems the tanker could not climb. Then, it fell and petrol (diesel) was pouring out of it.

    “The closest vehicle to the tanker was a bus. The bus was carrying foodstuffs and a woman was the one driving it. As soon as she saw the tanker spilling petrol, she started her engine and made to reverse. That was when the explosion occurred.

    “The woman could not even come out of her vehicle. It was some of my brothers that assisted her out. The fire jumped from her car and caught a bus carrying bread on the other side of the road.

    “Then from the tanker, the fire entered the car shop and burnt so many vehicles to ashes. A man who was inside a Nissan car was burnt on his leg.

    “Another man, an area boy, who was assisting the car shop owner to move some vehicles, fainted. He was rushed to the hospital. The fire was too much. People just abandoned their motorcycles and fled. We did not even know when the driver escaped. I did not see him.”

    A distraught Nwafor told reporters that he was still in shock over the disaster, adding that by the time he heard the explosion and rushed out, nine of his vehicles were already in flame.

    He said  fire fighters, who rushed to the scene,  neither had water nor extinguisher.

    Nwafor said: “I was here. I do not know the exact time but we were discussing. We heard a vehicle rolling back and we screamed. We started rushing out to know what the cause was but before we got to the gate, we heard an explosion.

    “We started rushing to remove our cars. I lost 18 vehicles in all including a lorry.  Outside the gate, nine of my vehicles were burnt to ashes. Inside here, I lost a Honda CRV, Pathfinder, Toyota 4Runner, Highlander, RX330 and a lorry.

    “Honestly, I cannot give you the cost of the losses because I have not even itemised them yet. We are still very shocked at the whole incident. We have some vehicles that are up to N11 million, others about N7.5 million. I can tell you roughly that we have lost about N80 million to this fire.

    “It is a pity that things are still happening the way they are in this country. If government had lived up to expectation, I am sure that these tankers should not be plying this road. That truck that rolled back is not supposed to be on the road in the first place. I blame the government for not doing its job. This is an avoidable incident.

    “I also believe that the driver who drove that tanker was inexperienced. He would have controlled the vehicle and stopped it from entering here if he had experience. If he knew what he was doing, the truck wouldn’t have fallen.

    “See how we are losing almost all we have laboured for in life at this crucial time. It is quite unfortunate. We started having tankers passing on the bridge recently. During the tenure of the former local government chairman, there was restriction on the bridge and they were not passing.

    “I do not know why those barriers were removed in the first place.  This bridge is too slopy for heavy duty vehicles to pass on.

    “Then the fire service did not help matters at all. They were contacted but they did not come early. Even when they eventually got here, they could not do anything because their fire truck was too old and they didn’t have water.

    “If they had acted at the time they got here, some of these vehicles would have been saved. I saw on television how Lagos State Government was sharing vehicles to some local government areas. I do not know what happened to Amuwo Odofin.

    Counting his loss, the bag seller, Charles,  said: “During the former chairman’s tenure, tankers did not climb this bridge but because of corruption in our society, they have allowed the trucks to be passing. See the losses they have caused me.

    “A tipper carrying sand finds it difficult to climb this bridge talk more of tanker. I have lost bags worth about N4.5 million. All burnt to ashes. Something must be done about this incident’’.

    Amuwo Odofin Local Government Chairman Valentine Buraimoh, who was at the scene, said the tanker owners would be held liable for the losses.

    He promised that the iron bars on the link bridge would be returned to stop heavy duty vehicles from taking the road.

    Buraimoh said: “I have gone round and seen the extent of damage done. I sympathise with those affected. I am also here to take stock of damages so that I can do a letter to the governor to notify him.

    “I have gotten in touch with the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Festac and asked for the vehicle registration number of the truck. I want to believe that the owners have insurance that would offset the great losses incurred.

    “We are thankful that no casualty was recorded. It is highly unfortunate. I was on my way to Ikeja when I was called and I turned back to this place.

    “I called 767 when I was told and they confirmed that they had been told and they had sent firefighting gadgets. I learnt the fire also burnt under the bridge.

    “It is quite unfortunate that the firefighting gadgets of the state did not get here early as a result of proximity. This is why Amuwo Odofin deserves an equipped emergency station to take care of Amuwo, Ojo and Ifelodun, rather than calling the responders from far distance since we know the traffic situation we have in Lagos.

    “I believe the Lagos State Government that pronounced restriction on trucks ought to have enforcement. There should be an enforcement of the law to prevent things like this. We must take enforcement of laws seriously.

    “Also, residents are not helping matters. Most times, they forcefully remove barricades placed on the bridges to restrict trucks. As we speak, I have called the engineer who did the previous barricades to return them.

    “I am appealing to the people to remain calm. We would do our best to ensure that this matter is followed to logical conclusion. We would address it with all sense of seriousness so that these losses can be compensated.”

    Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) General Manager Adesina Tiamiyu said the tanker was carrying diesel, adding that it detached from its truck and fell on its side.

    He said :“It later exploded due to an aftermath ignition of a commuter bus. No life was lost but one adult male sustained minor injury.  The combined effort of emergency responders including the LASEMA Response Team,  police, firefighters and Lagos Neighbourhood Safety Corps (LNSC) aided in containing the fire around 2:20pm. The explosion affected 21 vehicles- 18 cars and three commuter buses, as well as five bikes.

  • Four persons charred, two others injured in fuel tanker explosion

    Four persons were charred and two others gravely injured on Tuesday in a fire which erupted from a truck conveying fuel when it fell and exploded on them.

    The incident occurred around Fidiwo stretch of the Lagos – Ibadan Expressway in the afternoon as the truck driver travelling in the direction Ibadan lost control of the wheel following bids to overtake another fuel tanker and fell on a side of the road.

    The fire – fighters fought for over two hours to put out the raging fire and  rescue victims who were said to have been trapped by the burning fuel tanker.

    The state Commandant, Federal Road Safety Corps, Mr. Clement Oladele, who confirmed the accident to journalists, said two trucks were involved and gave the number plate of the ill-fated tanker as FFA 752 XA.

    “The incident occurred when the burnt tanker with the number plate FFA 752 XA brushed the other tanker by the side while overtaking it.

    “This resulted to loss of control and subsequent crash with the resultant impact of fire outbreak on both vehicles,” Oladele said.

    According to him, a corpse was seen at the scene of the accident.

    But the Public Relations Officer, Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Corps (TRACE), Tunde Akinbiyi said four persons were burnt to death while two others suffered with varying degrees of burns.

    “The TRACE personnel on ground at the scene of the accident said four persons died inthe tanker inferno.

    “They told me the four victims were trapped inside the ill-fated tanker. Two others were also said to have been injured,” he said.

  • One dead ,11 injured in tanker explosion

    The Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) in Ogun State said yesterday that one person died after a fuel tanker, an articulated vehicle and a bus collided  in a road accident at Sagamu.

    State FRSC Sector Commander Adegoke Adetunji said no fewer than 11 people sustained injuries in the accident that an eyewitness said occurred in the midnight.

    He said the tanker, loaded with petrol, had a mechanical problem and stopped on the road, while the bus and truck rammed into it resulting in explosion.

    He said that the tanker caught fire and burnt two other vehicles, noting that the dead and the injured had been taken to hospital.

    “We can’t even give you the number plates of the affected vehicles because, by the time we got there, they were all burnt beyond recognition,” he said.

    Adetunji said the accident must have been caused by the rate of speed of the vehicle that rammed into it.

    He advised motorists and commuter to always be alert when driving and avoid speeding.

  • Driver, motor boy die in tanker explosion

    Driver, motor boy die in tanker explosion

    A Tanker driver and his motor boy lost their lives yesterday when their tanker collide with a truck and exploded at Cele Bus Stop on Apapa-Oshodi Expressway, Lagos.

    The fuel content that spilled over from the tanker into the drainage caught fire and exploded.

    The explosion affected some parts of the market beside the road.

    Traders scamper to safety, leaving their goods behind in the raging inferno.

    Goods were destroyed in the process. Some traders were seen later lamenting their losses.

    Eyewitnesses said the driver of a stationary truck was trying to avoid a speeding car that nearly ran into it and hit the fuel-laden tanker few minutes past 4pm.

    The fuel tanker fell after hitting a culvert.

    A loud explosion was heard in the area as balls of fire envelop the atmosphere. The driver of the truck and a boy were said to have been consumed by the inferno.

    The explosion led many running and seeking for safety places. Soon, massive traffic gridlock was built on both sides of the expressway.

    In a bid to escape the traffic snarl, commercial buses were seen following alternative routes to beat the traffic gridlock.

    The gridlock extended to Iyana Isolo and Ijesha bus stop on the other side of the expressway.

    Some hoodlums took the opportunity of the incident to go on rampage and harassed some of the onlookers.

    An eyewitness Prosper Barinemekole described the atmosphere as scary.

    He said: “I was coming from Mile 2 when the explosion happened and I have been standing at Cele for more than two hours. What happened was that the truck carry fuel was over speeding and the driver was trying to dodge a speeding Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) beside it before hitting a culvert which makes it to fell and eventually exploded. The drivers and his partner couldn’t escape and they got burnt to death.”

    Another witness, Abdul-Azeez Bello who is also a tanker driver call on government to be provide fire service unit on the highways so as to easily arrest similar occurrence.

    Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) General Manager, Michael Akindele confirmed that two persons died as a result of the explosion, saying that various government agencies join forces to combat the fire.

    Spokesperson, National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, Ibrahim Farinloye said the tanker was conveying 33,000 litres of Premium Motor Spirit, PMS, when it exploded.

    Director, Lagos State Fire Service, Rasak Fadipe said six fire trucks were mobilised to combat the fire.

    Fadipe, however, said the fire was quenched around 7:40pm. Several shops were said to have been burnt in the area.

    He said: “The fire is totally put out now. Six fire trucks went to the scene of fire, three tankers and three fire fenders. An accident occurred between two articulated vehicles which resulted into the tankers falling down and a spillage into the drainage system. Fortunately, it did not flow on the road, we actively combated the fire. At the end of operation, we recovered two bodies from the truck while a car, Passat was also recovered. About four trucks were also affected by the fire. So, our prompt response prevented the fire from spreading to the market.”

    Fadipe urged drivers of articulated vehicles, especially tankers to understand that what they are conveying are highly combustible and inflammable.

    “Therefore, that kind of person should have known that he is not supposed to be struggling for space with other road users. Such drivers of articulated vehicles should be persons that can read and write and who would understand the signs and signals on the road. He should know when to speed and when to approach vehicles,” he said.

  • Tanker explosion kills two in Ondo

    Tanker explosion kills two in Ondo

    Two persons Thursday lost their lives at Ofosu community along Ore-Benin expressway in Ondo state following an explosion of a tanker, which was carrying 33,000 litres of diesel.

    The two victims, which were the driver and one other person who was in the vehicle were burnt beyond recognition.

    The third occupants also sustained severe injuries and he is presently receiving treatment at General Hospital in Ore.

    Eyewitnesses, who said the incident occurred around 2pm, accused the tanker driver of driving recklessly.

    The tanker was said to have ran into a ditch and spilled its content before bursting into‎ flames.

    The accident however caused gridlock on the ever busy road for more than two hours as motorists were stranded on the road until some residents of the area came out to put off the inferno which lasted for over two hours.

    Confirming the development, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Femi Joseph, said the tanker was coming from Ore, heading towards Benin when the accident occurred in Ofosu, around Levante Company.

    He said” the truck was coming from Ore on its way to Benin and when it got to an area called Levante, the driver of the truck lost control of the vehicle.

    “The driver lost control of the vehicle and the tanker laden with diesel tumbled and subsequently caught fire while the driver and one person with him, were burnt beyond recognition and the third person who was injured was taken to hospital for treatment.

    “All efforts to put off the fire did not work and this caused traffic delay on the road for more than two hours but our men are on ground to clear the wreckages from the road to allow free flow of traffic on the road.”

     

  • Tanker explosion: Police deploy forensic vehicle, order probe

    Tanker explosion: Police deploy forensic vehicle, order probe

    The Police in Lagos have deployed forensic vehicle to the scene of Friday’s tanker fire that razed several vehicles and buildings including the Tapa Magistrate’s Court.

    This is just as the Commissioner of Police, Fatai Owoseni, has directed the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (SCIID), Panti-Yaba to commence discreet investigation with a view to unravelling the cause of the mishap.

    Owoseni, who visited the street on Saturday morning, was said to have expressed concern, particularly because the fire destroyed some cars (exhibits and seized) in the court premises, as well as official files.

    The inferno, which started at about 4:23pm, razed 19 containers, 18 vehicles and household equipments.

     

  • Fresh tanker explosion razes over 34 houses, 70 shops in Lagos

    Fresh tanker explosion razes over 34 houses, 70 shops in Lagos

    •Ambode to meet tanker drivers, stakeholders tomorrow

    A petrol tanker exploded early yesterday at Idimu, a suburb of Lagos, setting about 34 houses and 70 shops ablaze, just four days after another petrol tanker caught fire at Iyana Ipaja also in Lagos.

    The latest incident occurred a little after 00.20 hours when the driver of the ill fated tanker was overtaking another tanker at the Idimu Bus Stop.

    The tanker overturned in the process, spilled its content on the road and immediately burst into flames.

    The fire thus ignited spread to nearby buildings and could have caused more damage but for the quick intervention of the Lagos State Fire Service, eye witnesses said.

    They were joined by members of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), the Police, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and the Lagos State Emergency Management Authority (LASEMA) for rescue operations.

    Men of the Fire Brigade were said to have put out the fire by 6am.

    There was no immediate report of loss of life.

    Governor Akinwunmi Ambode visited the scene of the explosion in the afternoon to assess the situation.

    He summoned Petroleum Products Tanker Drivers’ Union and stakeholders to an emergency meeting tomorrow to address the incessant petrol tanker-induced fires in the state.

    The governor said the number of tanker explosions in the state is disturbing and it was high time the state government sat down with tanker drivers to ensure it never happens again.

    He said: “This is another unfortunate incident happening within one week. Unfortunate, in the sense that, we are beginning to lose a lot of our assets and property to fire. I have been briefed that there were two tanker drivers actually competing on the road as at midnight including a commercial bus driver. As a result, the tanker driver lost control at the bend and it was 33,000litres of PMS and at a bend, in a sloppy area, you could see the contents went as far as five streets. We’ve lost close to 34 houses, 70 shops.

    “We do not want this to repeat itself again. We have said it before, we need to address our tanker drivers and start to enforce our traffic laws. I have directed that the union of tanker drivers we would meet on Monday morning and we must make pronouncement relating to the usage of our roads.

    Moved by the pleas of some residents who lost their properties to the inferno, the Governor directed the State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) to collate the names of victims with a view to providing immediate relief to cushion their pain.

    Victims who were rendered homeless and those whose shops were affected by the inferno began to count their losses immediately.

    A pitiable Yemisi Osinaike sobbed uncontrollably as she recounted how she watched her late father’s house go up in flames.

    “It was only yesterday (Friday) that I spent all the money I had to stock my shop. Everything has been destroyed. Where do I start from?” she said, held by her friends before they took her to a safe distance away from the prying eyes of onlookers.

    Kudirat Olusi, whose family house was also razed said she had just left her road side store and was about to retire to bed  when she heard what sounded like tankers over speeding by trailers.

    What followed, according to her, was an explosion.

    She dashed out of the house with only a wrapper tied across her chest.

    She ran back into the house to warn her family and neighbours to scamper for their lives.

    “Where do we start from now? Everything I had is gone with the fire. I took nothing out of the house. All my clothes, goods, including money from Alajeseku (co-operative union) that I collected yesterday were burnt,” Olusi said, sobbing.

    An eyewitness, Charles Ebohodaghe, watched the incident from a nearby three storey house where he has been residing since 1985.

    He said: “It is one of the most dangerous moments I have seen since I’ve been living here. Truck drivers are often careless around here once it is dark and the road is slightly free.

    “I was up there in my room when I saw this two trucks going at top speed, one trying to outdo the other. At the BRT end of Idimu, one caught up with the another but on getting to the bend one of the drivers lost control causing this accident.

    “The fuel was just gushing into the gutter and everyone had to scamper for safety. The fire was so big and terrifying. In no time all this area was engulfed by fire. These are all shops, usually fully stocked. All were burnt. It is a disaster.”

    Another resident, Hakeem Salaudeen, said the inferno could be seen from afar with alarm ringing from all angles warning people to run for their lives.

    Salaudeen gave kudos to men of the Lagos State Fire Service and residents for their timely response that prevented the fire from engulfing an MRS filling station on the Idimu-Ejigbo road.

    “The firemen were here on time and they worked till 6am. The youths were fetching water to quench the fire.”

    By dawn, the extent of damage hit the residents hard.

    Shop owners who reside far away got there yesterday to see that their shops were gone.

    Jonathan Obi, who runs two retail shops at the Idimu junction said he lost goods worth N4 million.

    “This is what I use in feeding my family. Nothing in there was insured. They are all gone. Government has to come to our aide,” Obi said.

    Director of the Lagos State Fire Service, Rasak Fadipe, told journalists that his men got a distress call at 12:08 am, and mobilized rescue response team from Ikotun.

    “On seeing that it was a major explosion, we had to mobilise others from Akowonjo, Sari Iganmu, Ikeja and Alimoso to ensure that the fire didn’t get to the MRS filling station in the neighborhood, which could have spelt doom for the entire community.”

    The Idimu fire incident, according to him, brings to 888, the number of fire incidents recorded in the state from January to May 2015.

    South West Coordinator of National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Ibrahim Farinloye said that the full assessment of the incident was ongoing and in the next 24 hours, they would take stock of all the affected — home owners, tenants and children — to have them taken care of according to standard best practices.