Two people sustained severe burn injuries after a diesel-laden tanker plunged from Otedola Bridge and burst into flames along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway in Lagos on Monday, October 19, 2026.
According to Channels Television, the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) confirmed that the tanker was carrying approximately 33,000 litres of diesel when it fell beneath the bridge towards Berger.
The incident triggered a fire that caused panic among motorists and pedestrians, with many fleeing the area as emergency responders rushed to the scene.
LASTMA confirms two injured in tanker explosion
In a statement issued on Monday evening, LASTMA spokesperson Adebayo Taofiq confirmed that two people suffered extensive burns during the incident.
The agency explained that emergency personnel quickly mobilised to rescue the victims from the burning tanker.
The injured victims were subsequently evacuated by the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency’s Rescue Unit to the Lagos State Accident and Emergency Centre at Toll Gate for urgent medical treatment.
The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) later disclosed that the victims were two adult men who sustained second- and third-degree burns.
Emergency responders extinguish Otedola Bridge fire
Firefighters from the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service were deployed to contain the blaze and prevent it from spreading to nearby infrastructure.
Personnel from LASTMA, LASEMA, the Federal Road Safety Corps, Lagos State Neighbourhood Safety Agency and the police also participated in the emergency response.
LASEMA confirmed in a subsequent update that the fire had been successfully extinguished through the coordinated efforts of the responding agencies.
The agency explained that firefighters had also commenced damping-down operations to prevent the fire from reigniting.
Traffic restored after tanker explosion
The incident initially caused significant traffic congestion around Otedola Bridge and the Berger-bound section of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
Motorists were forced to seek alternative routes while emergency personnel carried out rescue and firefighting operations.
However, LASEMA later confirmed that traffic flow along the affected corridor had been restored.
The agency urged motorists to maintain safe speeds and cooperate with traffic officials while recovery operations continued.
LASTMA also advised operators of heavy-duty vehicles to conduct regular mechanical inspections and comply with road safety regulations.
The immediate cause of the tanker crash had not been established at the time of the reports.
Although two people suffered severe injuries, emergency authorities had not confirmed any deaths from the incident.
