A major disaster was averted on Wednesday after a truck carrying 33,000 litres of ethanol overturned at the Second Rainbow Bridge in the Amuwo-Odofin area of Lagos State.
The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) confirmed the incident in a statement by its Permanent Secretary, Dr Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu. No casualties were recorded.
According to the agency, the FOTON truck, with registration number APP 346 YC, fell while negotiating a turn on the bridge. Preliminary investigations indicated that excessive speed caused the truck’s turntable to detach, leaving the vehicle obstructing the road.
Given the highly flammable nature of ethanol, emergency responders cordoned off the area and implemented traffic and crowd control measures to prevent a possible fire or explosion.
The Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service and the Federal Fire Service applied chemical foam to suppress fumes and reduce the risk of a secondary incident, while the police and traffic officials assisted at the scene.
LASEMA credited the coordinated response of the emergency teams with preventing a major disaster and urged motorists to observe speed limits, particularly when transporting hazardous materials.