Many were reportedly trapped as three fuel tankers burst into flames on Otedola Bridge in the Ojodu-Berger area of Lagos on Thursday evening.
Residents were seen scooping diesel from the tanker inside their jerry cans and buckets on Thursday evening while motorists panicked for fear of a fire accident.
It was gathered that the tanker whose driver was suspected to have lost control fell on its side and trapped the bus belonging to the Senior Staff Association of Electricity and Allied Companies.
“People are looting, scooping fuel from the tanker,” a motorist, Kazeem Babatunde, said.
Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, Dr Olufemi Damilola Oke-Osanyintolu, said the outbreak resulted from a collision among the oil tankers.
“Further investigations revealed that one of the tankers was ascending the bridge when it rolled back onto the other tanker and other vehicles. The collision impact resulted in the fire,” he said.
He stated that the number of people trapped in the inferno could not be ascertained, but preliminary assessments revealed that the multiple accidents involved three container-laden trucks.
Also, he disclosed that two tankers laden with unknown but highly inflammable contents, one tipper truck laden with gravel, one flatbed truck and three cars were affected.
He said four fire trucks are on the ground alongside LASTMA, LASEMA and the Nigeria Police.
