Tobi Soniyi
The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) has warned all tankers conveying volatile gases to ensure their tricks are road worthy before embarking on a journey.
In a preliminary report on the gas explosion that took place along Mobolaji Bank Anthony Way, Ikeja that happened on June 17 released yesterday, the agency gave a graphic detail of what actually led to the explosion which left five people dead and a dozen others with varying degrees of burns.
LASEMA said: “On arrival at the scene of the incident, it was discovered that a gas tanker 13.4 tons LPG truck in motion was leaking its content and as a result of wind action, the whole area of OPIC structure was engulfed with fire.
“Close investigation further revealed that the LPG gas was ignited by the exposed fire from the kitchen of the New Chinese restaurant which followed the trail of the LPG gas resulting in combustion of the gas tanker outside the compound. The inferno of explosion resulted in several damages to the OPIC Plaza building structure.”
The agency said 13 casualties with various degrees of burns were recorded at the scene. The casualties, it said were attended to by the Pre-hospital care unit and were later taken to the Lagos State University and Teaching Hospital and Gbagada Teaching Hospital for further treatment.
LASEMA said the remains of three adult males found dead at the incident the next days were taken to the morgue.
It said that two other victims died later while under medical treatment bringing the number of fatalities to five as at the time of writing the report.
The agency recommended that all commercial buildings must develop an emergency response plan and fire preventive plan in case of an emergency.
