Two people sustained severe burn injuries on Monday after a diesel-laden tanker fell from Otedola Bridge in Lagos and caught fire beneath the bridge. The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) said its emergency response team rescued the victims in collaboration with other emergency agencies.
The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency’s Rescue Unit evacuated the injured persons to the Lagos State Accident and Emergency Centre at Toll-Gate for immediate medical treatment.
Personnel of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service were deployed to extinguish the fire and prevent it from spreading to nearby infrastructure. The operation involved multiple emergency agencies working to contain the incident and assist those affected.
Other agencies involved in the rescue and firefighting efforts included the Federal Road Safety Corps, Lagos State Neighbourhood Safety Agency and police officers from the Alausa Police Division.
LASTMA General Manager, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, commended the emergency responders for their swift intervention. He said their coordinated efforts helped rescue the victims and contain the fire.
Bakare-Oki wished the injured persons a speedy recovery and stressed the importance of prompt emergency response and cooperation among agencies in managing road accidents.
LASTMA also urged motorists, particularly operators of heavy-duty and articulated vehicles, to conduct regular mechanical inspections, comply with safety standards and practise responsible driving to prevent avoidable accidents.
