In what may be described as another major tragedy in the nation’s transport sector, more than 60 people were yesterday evening burnt to death along Lagos /Ibadan Expressway in Ogun State. Eight vehicles were said to have caught fire following the stumbling of a truck carrying petroleum.
The truck careened on its side and its content spilled onto the road. THISDAY gathered that the truck then went up in flame, which caused a major fire that consumed another seven vehicles either directly moving behind or beside the truck.
The event leading to the fall of the truck could not be ascertained as at the press time. However, eyewitness account said when the truck fell down, with its content flowing onto the road, “it caused an ignited a fire that burnt three buses loaded with passengers and heading to various places, and four cars.”
Eyewitnesses accounts also put the number of the dead victims at 60 conservatively as there was no officials of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) to offer any information. The fire was said to have burnt the commuters beyond recognition. However, THISDAY met three survivors of the multiple accident with different degrees of burnt. The accident, which occurred about 1,000 kilometres from the Redemption Camp, grounded vehicular traffic on the ever busy expressway . There was a serious traffic jam in all directions.
In an emotion-laden voices, other road users caught in the grip of the traffic jam expressed sympathies. One of them said “you can imagine, these people left Lagos with the hope of getting to another destinations to continue their for one business or the other. But look at where they ended it all. Well, I believe God knows better. But our government must do something about our rescue and emergency system.”
THISDAY got in touch with Ogun State Gover-nment via the Governor’s Special Adviser on Environment, Mr. Kayode Anibaba, who promised to get in touch with appropriate quarters. He also told THISDAY to call the state’s Emergency Medical line. When this line was called, THISDAY was assured that adequate response would be given to the situation.
THISDAY also contacted the Lagos State Comm-issioner of Environment, Mr. Tunji Bello. He told THISDAY that the scene of the accident was not within the jurisdiction of Lagos State Government, saying Lagos would need the permission of Ogun State Government before any thing could be done. Nonetheless, the commissioner promised to do something about the situation.
However, there was no rescue effort on the site of the accident either by Ogun or Lagos state governments as at the press time. Two of the survivors were seen scampering for help. The commuters said the burns had been very severe of the possible.
Sep92006