Tragic struck in Lagos in the wee hours of Saturday, as a massive explosion triggered by petroleum product tankers rocked the Sangotedo area of Lekki Epe Expressway.
It was gathered that at least one person, said to be a tanker driver, died and several properties and business places were razed.
Sources said the fire started at about 2am and it was prefaced by an explosion which shook the entire Sangotedo suburb on Lekki.
“We heard the explosion as far as in Awoyaya and it sent people scampering for their dear lives,” one eye witness told our reporter
“I was running around getting my valuables and credentials after the initial shock, because the fire threatened to spill into our (Terra) estate,” one eyewitness said.
Sources said the fire was sparked by multiple crash involved a petrol tanker and two gas tanker in front of a Total station in front of Terra Estate.
“The petrol tanker, which is about 15,000, was turning when it ran into two stationery petrol tankers parker in from of the station. That was how the explosion occurred.”
Our source said no fewer than three properties; including a pastry shop and row of shops were affected by explosion.
Several dealers in exotic cars in the neighbourhood deferred the danger as they scramble to get their cars out of harms way.
Another source said fire services battled relentlessly for several hours to put off the fire.
“But for the swift intervention of the fire service, we would have been talking about the loose of several lives and much more damage to properties in the area.”
The cost of the early morning inferno was yet to be known, but it was gathered that it could run into several millions of naira.
Lagos State Government officials were at the scene taking stock of the damages and trying clear the strategic expressway, which was still closed.
