A man suffered severe burns when a Compressed Natural Gas-powered bus exploded in the Berger area of Lagos on Wednesday.
The incident happened along the Lagos-bound section of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
A statement by the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, LASTMA, said the vehicle, with registration number EKY 798 YK, had 18 occupants, including the driver, who were travelling from the Mowe-Ibafo axis towards Lagos when the fire broke out.
It said while 17 occupants, including the driver, were rescued without injuries, one male passenger seated at the rear of the bus suffered severe burns and was rushed to the Lagos State Trauma and Emergency Centre, Toll Gate, for urgent medical attention.
Officers of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service also responded to the incident, deploying firefighting equipment to put out the flames and prevent the fire from spreading further.
Personnel of the Ojodu Police Division provided security support at the scene, maintaining order and securing the area throughout the rescue and firefighting operations.
Commending the emergency response, LASTMA General Manager, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, acknowledged the cooperation among the different emergency response agencies involved in the operation.
“The incident once again underscores the indispensable importance of rapid emergency response, effective inter-agency synergy and the deployment of adequately trained personnel in mitigating the potentially devastating consequences of road-related incidents,” Bakare-Oki said.
The LASTMA boss further urged commercial transport operators, particularly those using CNG-powered vehicles, to ensure regular professional inspections and proper maintenance of their vehicles.
