The Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Agency (TRACE) has confirmed that an accident involving a petrol tanker occurred along the Abeokuta–Sagamu Expressway, leading to a fire outbreak.

TRACE spokesperson Babatunde Akinbiyi said the fire began at about 1 a.m. on Friday, with a number of persons feared to have lost their lives.

“The case of an inferno caused by a 30,000-litre fuel-laden tanker, which fell on its side and spilled its contents around 0100 hrs today along the Abeokuta–Kobape–Siun–Sagamu Interchange stretch of the PMB Expressway, due to excessive speed and loss of control, has been reported,” Akinbiyi said.

“The effect of the unfortunate incident also extended to the burning of a truck and a tow vehicle along the roadside, as well as the destruction of a PHCN cable supplying electricity to Mowe and environs.

“Though the casualty figures cannot be ascertained presently, rescue and emergency services made up of TRACE, Ogun State and Nestlé PLC Fire Service, FRSC, and the Police are still on the ground to restore normalcy and orderliness after quenching the fire and carrying out the decantation process.”

While urging motorists in the area to cooperate with emergency responders, Akinbiyi said that due to the ongoing rescue efforts, traffic within the corridor has been diverted to a single lane.

“The general public, particularly the motoring public on transit along the route, is implored to be calm, patient, and cooperate with the diversion and re-routing of traffic put in place by TRACE, Police, Ogun State Fire Service, FRSC, Amotekun, and the NSCDC,” he said.

He added that any inconvenience as a result of this unfortunate incident is highly regretted.