LASEMA Prevents Disaster As 33,000-Litre Ethanol Tanker Falls In Lagos
LASEMA Prevents Disaster As 33,000-Litre Ethanol Tanker Falls In Lagos
The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) has averted a potential disaster after a tanker conveying 33,000 litres of ethanol fell at the Second Rainbow Bridge in the Amuwo Odofin area of Lagos State.
The incident, which involved a FOTON truck with registration number APP 346 YC, reportedly occurred when the driver was negotiating a turn on the bridge. No casualties were recorded.
LASEMA’s Permanent Secretary, Dr Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, disclosed the development in a statement on Wednesday, attributing the incident to speeding, which allegedly caused the truck’s turntable to detach and fall onto the roundabout, obstructing the entire stretch.
He explained that the highly volatile nature of ethanol posed a significant risk of fire and explosion, prompting the agency’s Eagle Response Team and other emergency responders to immediately cordon off the area and implement crowd and traffic control measures.
According to him, the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service and the Federal Fire Service applied chemical foam to the tanker and its surroundings to suppress fumes and minimise the risk of a secondary incident.
Officers of the Nigeria Police Force and the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) also supported the operation by securing the scene and managing traffic.
Oke-Osanyintolu said the coordinated response prevented a major disaster, with no loss of life or injuries reported.
In a separate incident, LASEMA’s Tiger Response Team from C3 responded to a traffic obstruction at Oke Koto, Agege, after a Dangote cement truck climbed a road divider and became stuck.
The agency attributed the incident to reckless driving, noting that the stranded truck disrupted vehicular movement in the area.
LASEMA, working with LASTMA, deployed its heavy-duty recovery equipment, known as Super Metro, to remove the truck. The vehicle was subsequently towed to the LASTMA yard for further action.
The permanent secretary confirmed that the road had been reopened to traffic and that no deaths or injuries were recorded in the incident.
He commended the emergency responders for their swift intervention and urged motorists to comply with speed limits and traffic regulations, particularly when transporting heavy-duty and hazardous materials.
He also encouraged residents to report emergencies through LASEMA’s toll-free numbers, 767 and 112.
