Federal Road Safety Corps says no fewer than eleven people sustained injuries when a tanker, loaded with diesel, exploded on the Michael Otedola bridge on Lagos-Ibadan expressway on Saturday in Lagos.

Its Lagos State Sector Commander, Olusegun Ogungbemide, confirmed the incident in a statement Saturday evening.

Ogungbemide said the explosion occurred when the tanker rolled back and collided with another Articulated truck carrying goods and a salon car.

“The impact of the collision resulted in the explosion.

“About 11 passengers involved in the crash but no death was recorded.

“The rescue teams of FRSC, Lagos Fire Service and Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) are quickly mobilised to the scene for the rescue operation.

“The rescue team of Lagos Fire service are making frantic effort to extinguish the fire while FRSC and other traffic, the management team are on the ground controlling traffic flow,’’ the commander stated.

He advised drivers and owners of articulated vehicles to put their vehicles in proper shape and maintain minimum safety standard.

The commander also implored the public to be more vigilant while using the road, especially during this festive period.

Acting Zonal Coordinator, South West Zonal Office, NEMA, Ibrahim Farinloye, said the accident which occured at 5.30p.m. involved a tanker, a haulage truck and a Toyota Camry 1999 model carrying six members of the same family.

He said the tanker was fully loaded with 44,000 litres of AGO (diesel) and was moving toward Berger axis of the expressway when one of its tyres suddenly burst into flames.

Farinloye said people in the immediate vicinity of the accident had called out to the driver of the tanker to stop, but he reportedly tried to reverse the vehicle instead of stopping, thereby colliding with the other vehicles.

Farinloye said the the driver of the haulage truck, the family of six and both the tanker driver and his assistant all escaped unhurt.

He, however, said that the section of the road where the accident occurred was cordoned off to allow emergency response agencies put out the fire.

According to the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, the extent of property damaged is still being determined.

“The Agency has responded . . . and upon arrival of the Agency’s officials at the incident scene, it was observed that a tanker conveying an unknown amount of diesel fell spilling its content which resulted to an explosion that affected a truck conveying goods,” a statement signed by LASEMA chief, Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, said.

The statement added that rescue and recovery operations were ongoing.