The Nigerian Police and the National Emergency Management Authority (NEMA) have given details on the circumstances that led to the gas tanker explosion at Otedola bridge on Tuesday evening.
According to the South- West coordinator of NEMA, Ibrahim Farinloye, the explosion occurred when the tanker fully loaded with gas fell while trying to ascend the link road that linked Otedola Estate to the bridge.
He said the explosion resulted in the loss of many lives and property including a church, four houses while four people were also injured.
Also speaking on the cause of the inferno, the Lagos Police Command through its spokesperson, a Chief Superintendent of Police, CSP, Benjamin Hundeyin, said report received by the Command revealed that the gas tanker somersaulted while climbing the road to link the bridge.
“The accident was suspected to have occurred when the vehicle was trying to ascend the kink road to Lagos-Ibadan Expressway by Otedola Bridge and consequently the vehicle somersaulted and spill it’s entire content on the road and fire was ignited immediately,” he said
Hundeyin said properties lost in the inferno include four buildings; 15 vehicles including tricycles, an unspecified number of people, shops and household properties.
He said efforts are being made to know the exact number of people that died but said two bodies were recovered, adding that among properties affected was a private hospital.
He further noted that rescue operations are still in progress.”
