Another tanker fire 34 houses, 70 shops razed in Lagos

 

From left: Mr.Rasak Fadipe, Director, Lagos state Fire Services, Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos his deputy, Dr. Idiat Adebule, Head of Operation Lagos state Emergence Management Agency[LASEMA], Mr. Femi Giwa,and others, during the Governor visit to Tanker Fire Explosion scene in Idimu, Lagos. Yesterday. Photo: Bunmi Azeez

 By Evelyn Usman & Olasunkanmi Akoni

For the second time in four days, Lagos was the scene of tanker fire yesterday. The latest fire razed 34 houses and 70 shops in Idimu in Idimu-Egbe LCDA when a tanker carrying 33,000 litres of fuel spilled its content after falling, and exploding. No life was lost in the incident that occurred around midnight.

From left: Mr.Rasak Fadipe, Director, Lagos state Fire Services, Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos his deputy, Dr. Idiat Adebule, Head of Operation Lagos state Emergence Management Agency[LASEMA], Mr. Femi Giwa,and others, during the Governor visit to Tanker Fire Explosion scene in Idimu, Lagos. Yesterday. Photo: Bunmi Azeez

Governor Akinwumi Ambode visited the scene of tragedy, yesterday, to assess the damage and commiserate with victims. The Tuesday tanker fire in Lagos, which occurred around midnight, razed scores of houses, but equally claimed no lives. 200 persons were said to have been displaced as a result of yesterday’s tragedy while some residents reportedly sustained varying degree of injuries in the resultant stampede.

An eye witness said tragedy struck after the 33,000-litre tanker laden with diesel fell and exploded at Idimu bus stop, at midnight. There were, however,  different accounts of what led  to the incident. A  version said the tanker, which had Mustuk Investment Nig. Ltd inscribed on it, was struggling to navigate the narrow road with another tanker and a commercial bus when the driver lost control and the vehicle fell.

Idimu fuel tanker fire

Another version said the truck, with number plate, KJA 54 XA, was involved in a lone crash at the bus-stop, consequently spilling its content in the gutter. Unfortunately the combustive substance reportedly flowed to a stand where bean cake was sold. Residents jolted from sleep reportedly scampered in different directions for safety.

In their confusion, many of them missed members of their families. Sunday Vanguard gathered that there was apprehension from some people who ran to safe places only to discover that their kinsmen were missing. Some of them wailed, apparently thinking that their kinsmen had been caught in the inferno.

It was not until around 10am that all the neighbourhood residents reunited. Some of them were sighted giving thanks to God for sparing their lives but lamented their losses. The affected buildings included a storey building which comprised 24 rooms and seven shops on number