At least 15 people lost their lives in Lagos on Tuesday night
when a tanker laden with 33,000 litres of petrol lost control and
rammed into vehicles at Kirikiri, Lagos.
It was learnt that the tanker spilt all its content, thereby
causing the fire that burnt a branch of Sterling Bank at
Berger Suya Bus Stop, one Automated Teller Machine, 11 vehicles and 60
shops.
Most of the dead were said to be passengers of a commercial
bus (danfo) that was behind the tanker when it fell and
exploded.
An eyewitness claimed that the fire caused by the
explosion spread to Suya
spots in the area and burnt parked vehicles . He added that the
body of the tanker driver was glued to his seat for over 40
minutes before rescue officials removed it.
A commercial bus driver, Murhi Lawal, who spoke to journalists while
weeping profusely, said his bus was completely consumed by the fire.
He said, “Around 10pm on Tuesday, my bus developed a fault so I parked
it in front of the Sterling Bank branch. However, the guards on duty said
I should move the bus elsewhere so I decided to park on the other
side of the road so that I could buy a fan belt.
“As I was attempting to install the belt, I saw the big truck speeding
and it rammed into two vehicles before falling on its side and spilling all its
content.
“I subsequently heard an explosion and then fire ensued. Before I could
save my bus, the fire spread and consumed it.”
Some residents of the area said that immediately the accident
occurred, 15 people, mostly passengers of a commercial bus, lost their
lives.
They said that Capital Oil, Julius Berger and Swift Oil deployed water
trucks to put out the flames.
It was learnt that as they fought the fire, it continued to spread to
other streets.
A shop owner, Collins Okafor, who claimed to be part of the rescuers, said
he counted 13 bodies, excluding those of the tanker driver and his assistant.
He said, “Immediately after the explosion, we came together and started
fighting the fire. We tried to save people but about 13 bodies littered the
place. The tanker driver and his assistant were also burnt to death.
“One policeman was severely burnt by the fire but we were able to save
him. We then proceeded to Sterling Bank and forced the gate open. The security
guard had collapsed but we brought him out and he was taken to a nearby
hospital.”
Those who entered the premises of the bank, observed that its
heavy duty generator was completely burnt.
The banking hall was also burnt while computers and other equipment were
said to have been stolen by hoodlums during the rescue operation.
The President, Berger Business Community, Mr. Okey Udeagba, said about
five injured traders were rushed to hospitals.
Udeagba said the market had been closed due to the fire, adding
that traders alone lost at least N100m due to the incident.
He said, “We did not lose any member to the fire but five people
were injured and are recuperating in different hospitals. Most of those killed
were passengers and bystanders. However, we lost over N100m to the
fire.
“One of our members, Jones, lost all his goods which were stored in a
truck while his shops were also burnt. He is probably the biggest victim
financially speaking.”
He urged the state government to indemnify the victims and also avoid
demolishing the shops.
When one of our correspondents approached Jones for comment, he said he
was too distraught to speak on the issue.
Another victim, Okechukwu Mmadu, said he lost 12 heavy duty engines
worth N8m to the fire.
He said, “When the accident happened, the truck spilled petrol
into the gutters, leading to our shops. When the fire started, it spread
to our shops through the gutters. I immediately fled but luckily not all my
goods were burnt,” he said.
Policemen, officials of the Federal Road Safety Corps and the Nigeria
Security and Civil Defence Corps were seen controlling the crowd at
the scene.
The spokesman, National Emergency Management Agency, South-West Zone,
Ibrahim Farinloye, said the fire was put out around 1am on Wednesday.
Farinloye said, “Fifteen bodies were recovered by NEMA and the police.
The fire was put out by a combined team of federal and state fire services. The
fire lasted for about three hours. Many vehicles and 60 shops were affected.”
The Baale of Ibafon, Kayode Okunlola, said there was a need for the
Federal Government to curb the excesses of truck drivers, especially in the
area.
The General Manager, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, Dr. Femi
Oke-Osayintolu, said the injured victims were taken to the Lagos
State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja and Gbagada General Hospital,
Gbagada.
Oke-Osayintolu said a soil test would be conducted to ascertain the
strength of the affected buildings after which the area would be fumigated.
It was gathered that three injured
victims were admitted into the Gbagada General Hospital,
while others were referred to other general hospitals
in the state.
Two of the victims at the hospital in Gbagada are 23-year- old
Suraju Adeniyi, who suffered 80 per cent burns and 45- year- old,
Moses Adebayo, who suffered 40 per cent burns.
Another victim, 70-year-old Mrs. Rose Idowu, was said to
have been rushed to the Lagos State University Teaching
Hospital, Ikeja, where medical personnel battled to save her life but she
passed on within an hour due to the severity of the burns she suffered.
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