Fire Razes Church, Shops As Tanker Explodes In Lagos

Fire razed several shops and part of a church building after a tanker
containing Premium Motor Spirit, PMS, exploded yesterday, at Total
depot Dockyard, Apapa Road, area of Lagos.

The incident was said to have started at 5:00am and raged till 10:00am
before a team of fire fighters from Oando,Total and fire service
arrived at the scene to put it off.

An eyewitness who preferred anonymity said, "the incident began at
about 5am, when illegal oil-bunkers were transferring PMS from kegs to
the tanker. While transferring fuel from kegs to the tanker, one of
the kegs was said to have fallen and caught fire which engulfed the
tanker. Fortunately, the other tanker close by was empty it would have
been more serious. Immediately the fire started, the culprits all ran
away.

The eyewitness added that residents of the area had made several
complaints to the police on the activities of these illegal bunkerers
but nothing was done until the incident happened.

An official of Total depot who refused to disclose his identity said,
"Well we have tried our best to put off the fire so it will not affect
other property and total dockyard which of course would have caused a
greater damage.