Two charred remains of unidentified persons have been recovered following an explosion on Tuesday night that triggered an inferno on Otedola Bridge, Lagos.
Four others sustained varying degrees of injuries, while four buildings and 15 vehicles were destroyed.
Vanguard reported that the blast involved a 30-tonne DAF gas truck.
Spokesman for the Lagos State Police Command, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, made the disclosure at 10:30 p.m. He explained, “The accident was suspected to have occurred when the vehicle was trying to ascend the link road to the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway by Otedola Bridge. Consequently, the vehicle somersaulted, spilled its entire contents on the road, and fire ignited immediately.
“The vehicle’s registration number and make are still unknown. However, a total of four buildings, 15 burnt vehicles, including tricycles, an unspecified number of shops, and household properties were lost in the inferno.
“The number of human lives lost is still being quantified, as only two bodies have been recovered. A private hospital was affected, but details of the victims there remain sketchy. More updates will follow as the rescue operation continues.”
However, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) confirmed the death of one person in the explosion.
According to the South West Coordinator, Ibrahim Farinloye, four others sustained varying degrees of injuries. As of 10:20 p.m., he stated that a commercial storey building was affected by the resulting fire.
“One person died, four people were injured, 14 vehicles and four shops were destroyed, while one commercial storey building was affected,” Farinloye said.
Director of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Margaret Adeseye, earlier disclosed that the fire spread to a church, an adjoining bungalow, and four vehicles.
