Taiwo Jimoh and Yemi Olakitan 
Two persons were yesterday burnt and several vehicles razed when a gas tanker exploded while the driver was trying to off load it’s content at the Mobil Filling Station at Obafemi Awolowo Way, by Allen Roundabout, Ikeja.
It was learnt that a driver and one of the staff of the petrol station were seriously burnt in the explosion that gutted the station.
Witnesses at the scene said the incident happened around 8am when the driver of the gas truck was about to off load it’s content and fire suddenly came out from the engine side of the truck.
Commercial and private car owners who were at the station to buy fuel before the incident, scrambled to get their vehicles out of the station, but many were burnt beyond recognition, even as the driver of the truck escaped unhurt and many of those scampering to safety sustained injuries.
According to the Director General of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Femi OkeOsanyitolu, they received a distress call through their TollFree Emergency lines at 11:08am, and the Agency a c t iv a t e d it’s Tiger Response Team from the Command and Control Centre, Alausa to the scene immediately.
He said upon arrival of the Tiger Team at the incident scene, it was observed that the Mobil Filling Station at the aforementioned location was engulfed in flames.
“From investigations conducted at the incident scene, it was gathered that the fire was attributed to explosion of a 12 ton gas truck, which impacted several cars within the filling station and portions of a nearby building.”
Oke-Osanyitolu noted that about six vehicles both commercial and private vehicles were seriously impacted by the fire. While the second floor of a two storey building beside the gas station was also affected.
There were no fatalities as a result of the incidence, but two adult males suffered severe burns, while others sustained minor injuries when they were scampering for safety during the explosion.
“The injured individuals were promptly rescued and given immediate medical attention by the Agency’s Pre-Hospital Care Team in collaboration with LASAMBUS before being transferred to LASUTH for further medical treatment.
