LAGOS, NIGERIA — Two individuals have suffered critical burn injuries following a horrific incident on Monday afternoon, when a diesel-carrying tanker veered off the Otedola Bridge along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway and exploded into massive flames below.
The explosion beneath the bridge structure triggered widespread panic and caused major traffic standstill along the heavily traveled Berger-bound highway.
The spokesperson for the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Olawale Afolabi, formally confirmed the disaster in an official statement released to media representatives on Monday.
Afolabi explained that the agency was alerted to the crisis at roughly 4:24 PM, prompting the swift deployment of its specialized Tiger rescue team to the crash site.
“Tiger team en route to Otedola. Tanker on fire,” Afolabi indicated during the initial emergency update as first responders raced to manage the situation.
Providing further details on the crash dynamics, representatives from the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) noted that the heavy vehicle lost control before tumbling from the elevated roadway onto the corridor underneath.
“A diesel-loaded tanker reportedly fell from Otedola Bridge, caught fire, and was engulfed in flames underneath the bridge inward, Berger,” LASTMA stated. “Two casualties were recorded, while the incident has resulted in traffic congestion around the affected location.”
Teams from the Alausa and Ikeja fire stations were dispatched to battle the thick smoke and intense fire. Emergency workers managed to pull the two badly injured victims from the wreckage, transferring them without delay to the Lagos State Accident and Emergency Centre at Toll Gate for specialized medical treatment.
Firefighting crews have since brought the main blaze under control and are carrying out damping-down procedures to neutralize remaining hotspots and avert secondary fire risks.
Traffic wardens and LASTMA officers remain actively on-site re-routing vehicles. Drivers heading toward the Otedola and Berger corridors are advised to proceed with caution and comply with directives from traffic controllers.
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