Environment

Tanker Explosion Razes Houses, Shops in Lagos

By Web News 702

A petrol tanker exploded at Ajegunle Bus Stop axis along the Lagos-Abeokuta expressway in the early hours of Friday 22nd April 2022.

The incident, as gathered by Radio Nigeria News Correspondent, occurred at about 2:00 am. The inferno razed many shops and also killed one person.

While confirming the incident to Radio Nigeria, the Zonal Commander, Sango-Ota Unit of the Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Corps, Kunle Ajibade said that when information about the incident got to the Command, he immediately deployed his men to the scene in order to ameliorate the effect of the fire incidence.

“The incident occurred around 2:00 am. The fuel tanker was coming from Lagos towards Ogun State before falling and spilling its content, thereby resulting in the ugly inferno.

“We stormed the scene alongside other relevant agencies from Lagos so as to save the lives and properties of those plying the area. Unfortunately, one person was lost to the inferno with several shops razed.”

Ajibade noted that the agencies were able to manage the incidence as it coincided with when people were going out for their various businesses.

However, it was gathered that some more lives were lost in the raging inferno as some residents besieged the scene and started scooping fuel and they were caught up in the explosion.

Ajibade said the fire was put out by the combined operatives of the fire services from both states.

Abimbola Bamigbose

Foreign

Fuel Tanker Explosion Engulfs 500 Vehicles in Flames

By Web News 574

More than 500 vehicles burst into flames at the Afghanistan-Iranian border Saturday afternoon after a fuel truck there exploded, provincial officials told Afghanistan’s TOLO News.

The blaze took place at the customs office in Islam Qala, in Afghanistan’s western province of Herat.

Photos from the scene show tall flames and plumes of thick black smoke, visible even from a distance.

At least 17 people were injured and taken to the Islam Qala clinic and Herat Regional Hospital, according to Mohammad Rafiq Sherzai, spokesman for the Herat public health department.

No further information is available yet on casualties.

“Everyone was terrified. They were escaping. Cars were stuck,” eyewitness Khalil Ahmad told TOLO News.

Herat Gov. Waheed Qatali said officials had sought help from Iran, as the Afghan side lacked the resources to put out the huge blaze.

Iran will dispatch relief and rescue teams to the region to assist in the emergency response efforts, as requested by Herat officials, according to the Iranian state-run IRNA news agency.

Iranian state-run Press TV reported that the damage was on the Afghan side of the border and did not affect Iranian customs.

“Up to now there has been no report about damage on Dogharoon border terminal,” said Omid Jahankhah, supervisor of customs offices in Iran’s Razavi Khorasan province, according to Press TV.

According to Press TV, Iran is a major supplier of goods to Afghanistan and that the terminals are often packed with fuel tankers.

CNN