A fire incident that occurred at about 2 a.m. on Wednesday left no fewer than five vehicles razed along the Epe–Ijebu-Ode Expressway in the Eredo Local Council Development Area of Lagos State.
PUNCH Metro learnt on Wednesday that the fire began when a 45,000-litre tanker conveying diesel lost control and fell on its side.
The fall reportedly caused the tanker to spill its contents on the road before it was engulfed in flames.
The impact of the blaze was said to have destroyed four other vehicles that were parked along the road.
A Facebook user, Epe Lawa, who shared scenes from the incident, disclosed that the fire wreaked havoc, destroying four vehicles in addition to the tanker.
Epe Lawa wrote, “The people of Epe were thrown into deep mourning in the early hours of today following a devastating tanker explosion along the Epe expressway.
“Eyewitnesses confirmed that at about 1:50 a.m., a fully loaded tanker plying the expressway suddenly lost balance, fell, and burst into flames, causing widespread destruction.
“Several vehicles on the road were completely razed as the inferno spread rapidly.”
Confirming the incident in a telephone conversation with our correspondent on Wednesday, the spokesperson for the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Shakiru Amodu, disclosed that the tanker, with number plate KWK 833 SK, was conveying diesel when it fell while climbing a hilly part of the expressway.
He identified the vehicles destroyed in the inferno as a Mazda car, a Nissan car, a Honda Accord car, and a Toyota Hilux, in addition to the tanker.
“The incident happened at about 2 a.m. We received a distress call and upon arrival at the scene, discovered that a 45,000-litre tanker loaded with diesel had fallen and spilled its contents on the road before being engulfed in fire.
“Firefighters were able to contain the fire and prevent it from spreading to other areas. Four vehicles parked along the road, as well as the tanker, were razed. No life was lost in the incident,” Amodu said.
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