…15 vehicles, 23 buildings affected
Joy Anyim
No fewer than 30 persons were injured, on Thursday, after a tanker loaded with LP gas exploded in front of Mana Gas Station at Cele Bus-Stop in Iju Ishaga area of Lagos State.
The explosion which rocked the area around 3:05p.m. affecting 15 vehicles and 23 buildings was said to have been caused by a minor misunderstanding between the tanker driver and the management of the gas station.
According to the Director of Operations, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Olatunde Akinsanya, preliminary investigations revealed that Mana gas rejected the product conveyed by the tanker on grounds that the manufacturers seal had been tempered with.
Akinsanya, who spoke at the scene of the incident said the angry tanker driver reversed and was about driving out of the gas station when his tyres burst igniting the truck.
“There used to be a manufacturer seal from the place it is been loaded. So this supervisor at Mana gas who is to take custody of the gas said it has been tampered with so he is not going to take it. So it was with that annoyance the driver of the truck was coming out of this axis and suddenly the front tyre burst.
“In the process, the gear section hit the concrete and there was a spark. It was this spark that provoked gas explosion along the seal that had been tampered. Of course, if the seal had been intact, we would not be having an explosion like this.RELATED POSTS
“An attempt to move the vehicle out plunged the vehicle into the drainage and subsequently there was the second explosion. So the first explosion had given signal to the people around. If not, the casualty will be about 100 because along this corridor we have people that are welders, mechanics, carpenters, even an event centre.”
Speaking on the explosion, the South West Coordinator of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Ibrahim Farinloye said a church, a block industry and attached office, one cement store, a sawmill, several stores where building materials were sold were also affected.
“Fifteen people were admitted at Iju waterworks Clinic, two referred to General Hospital, three on critical observation and 10 are being treated presently at the scene, ”he said.
The Director-General of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Olufemi Damilola Oke-Osanyintolu said that the inferno was tackled head-on by the combined efforts of the LASEMA Response Team led by the Director Operations, LRU Fire, LASG Fire Service, Nigeria Police Force and NSCDC.
He said the fire had been extinguished and damping down is being carried out. ”
In a detailed breakdown of the casualties, the LASEMA said 20 adult males and 10 adult females were injured.
“LASEMA conducted a post disaster assessment. The Disaster losses were two residential buildings, one church building, one event centre, four commercial buildings, market consisting of 15 shanty shops, 11 cars, two mini trucks, one bus, and one heavy duty truck, ” the agency stated.
