LASTMA, Fire Service Avert Major Disaster as Leaking Gas Tanker Catches Fire on Ikorodu Road

LASTMA, Fire Service Avert Major Disaster as Leaking Gas Tanker Catches Fire on Ikorodu Road

The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority and the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service on Friday averted a major fire disaster after a leaking gas tanker burst into flames at Owode Elede along Ikorodu Road in Lagos, while ensuring that traffic flow remained largely unaffected.

The incident involved a six-tyre mini gas tanker that developed a mechanical fault while travelling along the Owode Elede corridor inward Ikorodu. During emergency assessment by responders, officials detected a leakage of compressed gas, which subsequently ignited and triggered a fire around the vehicle.

Emergency response teams from LASTMA's Rescue and Recovery Unit, working alongside personnel of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, quickly contained the blaze, preventing it from escalating into what authorities described as a potentially catastrophic inferno capable of threatening lives, property and critical road infrastructure.

To minimise disruption to commuters, LASTMA officials created an alternative traffic route by diverting vehicles through one serviceable lane alongside the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) corridor. The intervention ensured that vehicular movement along the affected stretch remained orderly despite the ongoing emergency operation.

The General Manager of LASTMA commended the swift coordination among emergency responders, saying their prompt intervention was instrumental in preventing a major disaster.

He also urged motorists to exercise caution, obey traffic regulations and cooperate with emergency personnel during such incidents.

The agency reaffirmed its commitment to protecting lives and property, maintaining traffic flow and providing rapid emergency response across Lagos State's road network.