Two casualties as tanker catches fire under Otedola Bridge in Lagos

Two casualties were recorded on Monday after a diesel-laden tanker reportedly fell from Otedola Bridge and caught fire underneath it, inward Berger, Lagos State.

The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) announced the incident in a post on X at about 5:10 p.m., saying firefighters were battling the blaze while emergency responders attended to the victims.

The agency said arrangements were being made to take the victims to hospital, while its personnel managed traffic around the scene.

LASTMA advised motorists approaching the area to drive cautiously and obey traffic officials’ instructions as emergency operations continued.

In a separate statement on Facebook, the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service said the 33,000-litre tanker was carrying petroleum products from a depot when it fell between the inward and outward sections of the bridge.

The service said it received a distress call at 4:09 p.m. and sent firefighters from its Alausa and Ikeja stations. They arrived at 4:16 p.m. and began putting out the fire.

The fire was later extinguished, although firefighters remained at the scene to deal with residual hotspots and prevent it from reigniting, the service said.

READ ALSO: Fuel Tanker Fires: Safety expert warns against scooping spilt petrol

The incident recalls a gas truck explosion near Otedola Bridge on 11 March 2025, which destroyed buildings and vehicles.

The National Emergency Management Agency reported that one person died, four others were injured and 14 vehicles were burnt in that incident. 

The fire service stated that it would provide further details about the cause of Monday’s incident, casualties and property damage when the information had been verified.

Its Controller-General, Margaret Abimbola Adeseye, urged motorists to exercise caution around emergency scenes and obey safety instructions from responders.