No fewer than 18 persons were reported dead on Tuesday night at the highly-populated commercial centre of Kirikiri road connecting to the popular Berger Suya bus stop, all in Apapa, Lagos, after a tanker loaded with petrol exploded.
The tanker was said to have broken down at the busy road interception, spilling some of its content which was ignited by fire from a nearby suya spot, leading to a massive explosion which occurred at around 10.30pm.
Eye witness accounts indicated that two commercial buses with some passengers were caught in the inferno.
Our correspondent who visited the spot also confirmed that commercial activities were placed on a halt as all the automobile spare parts shops were under lock and key due to the fire that rocked one of the buildings which housed vehicle parts.
Some of the traders who spoke to our correspondent said that relevant authorities ordered the closure of the shops until the truck and other affected vehicles were evacuated.
Also a branch Sterling Bank close to the explosion scene was badly affected by the inferno even as two of the bank’s vehicles were burnt beyond recognition in the complex.
Our correspondent learnt that nine vehicles and two motor bikes were burnt completely due to the outbreak.
Eyewitnesses confirmed to Shipping Position Daily yesterday said that the explosion occurred at around 10.30 pm on Tuesday and for several hours no agency of the government was available to fight the fire.
A spare part dealer who pleaded anonymity disclosed that he lost goods worth more than N23million to the inferno
The dealer lamented that some of his newly imported vehicle engines were destroyed.
Narrating his ordeal, he added that: ‘’I parked the truck laden with new engines along the road which I want to distribute on Thursday to my clients only for me to get a phone called that there is a fire outbreak close to my shop at 12 midnight, when I got to the place, I found out that all the goods have been destroyed by the fire’’.
The dealer said more buildings would have been affected if not for the intervention of the fire fighters, the Police and Nigerian Civil Defense Corps that came, even though late.
According to an eye witness, a total of 21shops were affected while goods worth millions of Naira were destroyed in various shops.
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