Again, two persons were burnt to death and 13 vehicles, including trucks razed when a petroleum tanker fell on the road and exploded at the proposed new Kara Market, Ogere-Remo, Ogun State, along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
The tanker explosion which occurred around 4am on Tuesday, touched – off a huge inferno, razing vehicles parked by the roadside and those trapped in an ensuing gridlock on the ever busy Lagos – Ibadan expressway.
Ogun state Deputy Governor Engineer Noimot Salako-Oyedele who led a government delegation to the scene, expressed sadness over the significant loss of property at the site, and conveyed the government’s sympathetic to the affected people.
She said that following briefing by the relevant agencies that responded to the emergency, there have been two casualties from the inferno, which also caused serious gridlock on the road.
According to her, 13 vehicles were involved in the accident which occurred when a fuel laden tanker collided with another vehicle and burst into flames.
She thanked the operatives of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Police, Fire Service and Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Corps (TRACE) for responding swiftly to the emergency, thereby helping to limit the tragic loss of lives.
The Public Relations Officer of the (TRACE) Babatunde Akinbiyi, said trailer bearing petroleum product fell on road after colliding with another truck, explaining that the explosion affected seven other trucks and six other vehicles cars in the process.
Akinbiyi advised motorists to ply the alternative routes mapped out to ease travelling along the expressway.
“Vehicles moving inbound Lagos should go through Saapade-Ode-Remo-Iperu-Sagamu to relink Lagos-Ibadan Expressway. In addition, vehicles moving inbound Ibadan should also go through Sagamu-Iperu-Ode/Remo-Saapade to relink Lagos-Ibadan expressway.
“While any inconvenience is highly regretted, drivers are implored to please maintain lane discipline, so as not worsen the traffic situation,” TRACE PRO stated.
Credit: thenationonlineng.net
