Petrol tanker explosions rock Lagos, as Ambode executes first assignment 

THERE were at least three fire explosions across Lagos State in the early hours of Tuesday, leaving many residents with loses of their valuables.

While no life was reportedly lost, several people were injured in disasters that consumed multiple houses, scores of cars and roadside shops.

Much of the loses were recorded at the rather loose session of the Iyana Ipaja market, were a petrol tanker fell off the bridge and emptied its 33,000 litres content into the shops and adjoining streets where residents were fast asleep.

Another petrol explosion was recorded in Magbon, Badagry area of the state. The other incident was at Abule Oki, less than a kilometre from Iyana Ipaja market, where a transformer exploded in a neighbourhood.

Eyewitnesses told The Guardian that the Iyana Ipaja petrol fire began some minutes past 1am, when a tanker driver lost control as his vehicle descended the bridge linking Agege to Ipaja axis.

No sooner had the tanker rolled off the railing, with fire trailing the spilling content into the streets, drainages, than unnamed driver ran into houses, banging on doors and windows for everyone to scamper for safety.

Ibrahim Akinwande told The Guardian that he noticed the fire when then they were rudely waken by fire alarms and bellowing smoke.

According to him, the Fire Service responded to their emergency calls with three fire trucks, but soon proved inadequate for the raging petrol fire.

“The water finished fast, so we resorted to fetching water from anywhere possible to douse the spread. I counted about 22 vehicles and seven houses. Two vehicles near the scene and 17 on Jafojo Street,” he said.

Affected vehicles were those parked on the streets.

Another resident, Alaba, recalled that the midnight confusion got many injured as they were running for their dear lives in the pitch darkness.

When the state governor, Akinwunmi Ambode and state officials arrived at the scene to take the inventory of the destroyed property around 10am, about three houses were still bellowing in smoke as completely razed vehicles and the tanker littered the scene.