Tanker fire and explosion under Otedola Bridge kills two, emergency services respond

Incident Overview On Monday evening, a 33,000‑litre diesel tanker transporting petroleum products fell between the inward and outward lanes of Otedola Bridge on the Lagos‑Ibadan Expressway. The vehicle caught fire and exploded, according to reports from the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service.

Emergency Response The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) received a distress alert at about 4:24 p.m. and immediately dispatched its Tiger response team to the scene. Firefighters from the Alausa and Ikeja stations were mobilised after a call was received at 4:09 p.m. and arrived at the bridge at 4:16 p.m., seven minutes later. They successfully extinguished the blaze and carried out damp‑down operations to cool the affected materials and eliminate residual hotspots.

Casualties and Damage The incident resulted in the deaths of two individuals, as reported by BusinessDay. No further details on property damage or additional casualties were available at the time of reporting. The cause of the tanker’s fall remains undetermined, and the incident report did not specify the extent of any structural damage to the bridge.

Safety Concerns The event has highlighted the risks associated with transporting petroleum products on Otedola Bridge, a section of the expressway that has previously experienced tanker fires. Heavy traffic, the flammable nature of the cargo, and the proximity of other vehicles to accident scenes are cited as contributing factors to the danger.

Current Status Firefighters continue to monitor the site to prevent a re‑ignition, while LASEMA and the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service are reviewing safety protocols for tanker transport on the bridge. Further information on the incident’s cause and any additional injuries is pending.