Three burnt to death as bus explodes in Lagos

THREE men were burnt to death yesterday in Isolo area of Lagos, when a commercial bus caught fire in the wee hours of the day. The Guardian gathered that the commercial bus, with about four people onboard, was laden with gallons of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), otherwise called petrol, when it rammed into a roadside electric pole.

While one of the occupants, being the driver, escaped with severe burns, the other three were trapped and burnt beyond recognition. Eyewitness confirmed that the incident occurred around 5.30a.m., when the bus suspected of over speeding on the Nisurat Lasisi Street, Isolo, lost control and crashed into the pole.
“It was so sudden that it immediately caught fire. It was a surprise that the driver managed to escape,” a sympathiser, Ozomena, said.

Confirming the incident, General Manager of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Michael Akindele, said that the agency was alerted of the incident around 5:30a.m and immediately responded with support from the Lagos State Fire Service, Nigeria Police and the Red Cross.

Akindele said preliminary investigation conducted by LASEMA’s emergency response team showed that the bus, with registration number KTU 418 XK, was on a suspected bunkering mission when the incident occurred.

“Investigation further revealed that four persons were in the bus. Two male adults were trapped and burnt to death as a result of the fire, while the driver was taken to Isolo General Hospital for further treatment.

“Unfortunately, one of the occupants of the bus cannot be accounted for. The victim at Isolo General Hospital has been transferred to Gbagada General Hospital (burns unit) for further treatment. The two burnt and confirmed dead victims have been handed over to the State Emergency Health Management Unit (SEHMU),” Akindele said.

He added that proper investigation would be conducted on the incident. He advised Lagos residents not to hoard petroleum products as a result of the lingering scarcity.

The Director, Lagos State Fire Service, Mr Rasak Fadipe, also confirmed the incident to newsmen yesterday. The director said the survivor, now receiving treatment at Isolo General Hospital, told fire service men that they were coming from Imota area of Ikorodu. “It is likely they were involved in petroleum bunkering in Ikorodu area. The driver lost control and hit a stationary truck,” he said.

According to an eyewitness, in its uncontrolled motion, the bus brushed the sides of cars parked by the roadside and came to a halt after ramming into a stationed car and the base of a concrete pole in front of Kembos College. It was briefly after the collision with the car and pole that the bus burst into flames. Luckily, some of the people aboard the bus had evacuated before the explosions occurred.