A  gas tanker has exploded at the Ijora Badiya area of Lagos State.

It was gathered that the gas tanker exploded around 1:30 pm on Thursday at Ijora Pallete Junction beside Lagos State Homes Estate, Ijora Badiya, Lagos.

An eyewitness disclosed that the tanker was leaking and some passers-by drew the driver’s attention to the leakage.

The eyewitness added that the driver consequently attempted to use a fire extinguisher on the tanker before it exploded.

Confirming the incident, the acting Zonal Coordinator, South-West Zonal Office of National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Ibrahim Farinloye, said that the exploded tanker was loaded with 20,000 metric tonnes of Liquefied Petroleum Gas.

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Farinloye stated that the driver was trying to negotiate a safe corridor to park and take care of the leakage before the gas tanker exploded.

“It was revealed that the driver was trying to negotiate a safe corridor to park and take care of the leakage but, along the line, the explosion occurred near some makeshift shops by the roadside,” the NEMA Coordinator said.

He noted that the fire was put out by firefighters and operatives of the Ijora Badiya Police Division, adding that no life was lost in the explosion.

Meanwhile, police have diverted traffic from the road to prevent traffic congestion and prevent hoodlums from attacking innocent citizens.

The Star