Two Casualties as Diesel Tanker Falls, Explodes Under Lagos’ Otedola Bridge

The diesel tanker reportedly fell off Otedola Bridge and exploded on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway on Monday evening, with two casualties recorded and traffic disrupted around the scene.

The incident occurred on the Berger-bound section of the expressway on October 19, 2026, prompting the deployment of emergency responders and firefighters to contain the blaze.

The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) confirmed the fire, with its spokesperson, Olawale Afolabi, saying the agency received a distress alert at about 4:24 p.m.

In a message to journalists, Afolabi said the agency had dispatched its Tiger team to the scene.

The Punch and The Guardian Nigeria initially reported that the tanker was on fire and that emergency responders were heading to the location.

However, a subsequent report by TheCable said the tanker had fallen off the bridge and exploded.

TheCable, citing a post by the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) on X, reported that two casualties were recorded in the incident.

According to the report, emergency responders were attending to the victims and making arrangements to convey them to hospital, while firefighters worked to contain the fire.

The identities of the casualties and the severity of their conditions were not immediately established in the reports reviewed.

The incident also caused traffic congestion around the affected section of the expressway, forcing motorists to seek alternative routes.

LASTMA said its personnel were managing traffic around the scene and urged motorists approaching the area to exercise caution and obey traffic directives while emergency operations continued.

The cause of the incident and the extent of the damage had not been established in the available reports as of Monday evening.

Further details were expected as emergency agencies continued their response.