EIGHT persons, including a pregnant woman and a naval rating, were yesterday burnt to death after a 33,000 litre tanker loaded with product suspected to be diesel, exploded at Orile Iganmu, in Lagos.

Nine other persons— four men, four women and a teenager— sustained varying degrees of burns. Several others were injured in the ensuing stampede. Also, eight vehicles and nine shops were razed by the inferno which jolted residents of the densely populated area.

Vanguard gathered that the fire started at about 5a.m, after the tanker which was coming from Mile- Two was involved in a lone accident at Orile bus-stop, close to the Orile Divisional Police Station. The cause of the accident was unknown at press time.

The tanker climbed the culvert with the product spilling its content on the ground, and following the impact triggered an explosion.

Eye witnesses told Vanguard at the scene that another tanker driver who was driving towards Mile-Two, from the opposite direction, ran into the fire. However, his tanker was empty. But he was also partly burnt and is now receiving treatment in an undisclosed hospital.

The highest number of causalities was said to have been recorded in a Coaster bus which was heading towards Mile Two.

Eye witnesses said warnings of the danger ahead to the Coaster bus driver who apparently thought it was a ploy to attack the vehicle, were not heeded. As he got closer to the burning tanker, his own vehicle also caught fire. Some of the passengers who managed to escape with burns, were said to be in critical conditions in the hospital.

Others who cried for help without any in sight, were burnt beyond recognition. One of them, a naval rating said to be running for safety while on fire, fell on an overflowing portion of the diesel, which he apparently mistook for flood from rain.

The incident caused a massive traffic jam on both sides of the road, leaving commuters to walk long distances to their different destinations. Policemen from Orile Divisional Police Station and near-by Divisions had to divert vehicles through alternate routes to de-congest the traffic.

Officials of the Lagos State Fire Service assisted by youths in the neighbourhood battled unsuccessfully to stop the raging fire until aid came from construction giant, Julius Berger Plc.

Also on hand to assist were officials of the Lagos Transport Management Authority (LATSMA), Lagos State Emergency Management Agency(LASEMA) and the Civil Defence Corps.
Commenting on the incident, the Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr Frank Mba, confirmed that eight persons were burnt to death.

“The charred bodies except one could not be identified. The fire was put out at about 7.20a.m and the road was cleared to allow for easy traffic flow. Those who sustained burns are responding to treatment in the hospital,” he said and advised motorists to drive carefully especially during this rainy season.

Owing to the perennial state of traffic jam in and around the Apapa area caused by tanker drivers, the Federal Government had on Wednesday barred 16 petroleum products depot operators from taking delivery of fuel pending their provision of holding bays for their customers.

Mrs. Diezani Allison-Madueke, Minister of Transportation, broke the news while addressing the press in company of Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State who also attended the Federal Executive Council meeting on Wednesday.

She said the measures were part of the recommendations of the committee set up to look into ways of decongesting Federal Access Roads.

While the 16 suspended tank farms failed to meet the minimum conditions and requirements for provision of holding bay and associated facilities, 22 tank farms that meet the operational guidelines and provisions of requisite Holding Bays are to be allowed to continue to operate.

Although the tank farms affected by the decision where not mentioned, tank farms in the Apapa area worst hit by the traffic jam includes those operated by Obat, MRS, Ascon, Everest, Sahara, Folawiyo, Total, Capital, Integrated, Ibeto, Ibafon, Zenon, Wabeco, Sigmund, Eurafric, Techno Oil, Aquitaine, Honeywell among others.

It was gathered that the companies operating in the area have a combined installed capacity in excess of 600,000 metric tonnes

The committee recommended a three phase approach to the decongestion of the Federal Access roads.

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Lord have mercy!!!

Sad news! Only God knows what is causing these tragedies in this country.

May the souls of the deceased REST IN PEACE