Fire guts three fuel tankers, 15 cars

 
There was panic along the Murtala Muhammed Airport Road, Lagos, on Saturday as motorists fled after three tankers loaded with fuel went up in flames.

No fewer than 15 cars were reportedly burnt in the inferno, which raged for more than five hours.


Although the cause of the fire was not clear as of press time, our correspondent learnt that the incident happened past 3pm.

A police source said the incident happened close to the Mobil Filling Station in the area.


He said, “It was a big fire. The fire first started with a truck conveying 33,000 litres of fuel, before spreading to another tanker in a motor park close to the Mobil Filling Station along Airport road. Three tankers were engulfed in flames. A lot of cars were affected. I could not count the number, but they were about 15. There is confusion everywhere and despite the rain, the fire refused to stop.”

It was gathered that firefighters from the Lagos State Fire Service, Alausa and Ikeja stations, later responded to the incident. One of the firefighters, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the prompt intervention of the firefighters stopped the fire from affecting the fourth tanker.

An official of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority said the incident caused gridlock in the area, as traffic had to be diverted to avert loss of lives.