TheCable

An unidentified person died on Friday, when a petrol tanker, laden with fuel, burst into flames in front of Oando filling station at Obalende, Ikoyi, Lagos.

According to the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), 16 persons, including a firefighter, were also injured in the incident.

In a statement on Friday, Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, chief executive officer of LASEMA, said the agency received a distress call that a 45,000-litre capacity tanker had fallen on its side in front of the petrol station.

He said efforts to combat the fire were successful.

“Efforts to combat the flames by the agency’s officials and men of the Lagos State Fire Service and the Federal Fire Service have been successful and the fire has been extinguished and the station and surrounding buildings protected,” he said.

“Unfortunately, the inferno has resulted in a single (1) fatality, fifteen (15) minor casualties and one (1) major casualty who happens to be a Lagos State Firefighter. He has been subsequently transferred to the Lagos State General Hospital for treatment while minor casualties received on-the-scene medical attention.”

The agency appealed for calm and urged members of the public to keep away from the scene of the accident, and allow the responders to conclude recovery, in order to clear the road for vehicular traffic.