20 vehicles burn as tanker explodes in Festac/Amuwo bridge

No fewer than 20 vehicles and four commercial motorcycles were, on Wednesday afternoon, burnt when a tanker laden with petrol fell and spilled its content on the Festac Link Bridge in Awuwo Odofin LGA of Lagos State.

A witness, Mr. Olufemi Popoola, told the News Agency of Nigeria that the tanker, coming from Apple Junction and going to FESTAC Town, was ascending the bridge but suddenly rolled back and fell.

The impact of the fall separated the tank from the truck’s body, resulting in an explosion, according to Popoola.

He said some residents and passers-by attacked the fire with buckets of water to no avail.

Popoola , who lives in FESTAC, said the fire from the tanker spilled over to nearby vehicles, forcing their occupants to run, abandoning them.

“The fire then spilled into a car shop on the foot of the bridge, burning some of the cars, while the attendants quickly drove out some.

“Furniture items, bags and boxes displayed for sale on the foot of the bridge were all burnt,’’ he told NAN.

NAN reports that the vehicles burnt included a 2010 Toyota Highlander and a commercial bus.

The fire started at noon and raged for about an hour.