A brief surprising story unfolded at Liasu Road, Lagos, Nigeria, recently. Residents witnessed a fuel spill accident which caused panic in the area. According to Folasade Adeyemi to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the origin of the accident is still unclear. Residents then evacuated their homes as a safety measure.
The area was cordoned off, from the Ilewe Bus Stop, to prevent vehicles from approaching the scene. Folasade mentioned that fuel was flowing into road gutters, and noted that a boy trying to collect gasoline was stopped by vigilant individuals.
Moses Oluwagbemileke, a witness at the scene, said he saw people fleeing from the NNPC petrol station, where the spill occurred, on his way to work. He expressed his gratitude for the prompt intervention of the emergency services, stressing that the situation could have turned into a disaster if it had happened later in the night.
The situation was caused by the deterioration of the valve of a 45,000 liter fuel tanker conveying fuel to refuel the underground tanks at the NNPC fuel station. Fortunately, authorities responded quickly by using chemicals to neutralize the danger of the spilled fuel.
This incident has highlighted the critical importance of safety in the handling of petroleum products, and highlights the need for constant monitoring to avoid potential future disasters.