A fire outbreak on Wednesday, October 18, at the Nine Energies gas station in Asero, Abeokuta, is believed to have claimed the lives of two individuals. The fire ignited during a diesel transfer operation, where a medium tanker was unloading diesel into another tanker.
The casualties from this incident are reported to be the driver of the diesel-receiving tanker and his assistant. Prompt response teams, including firefighters from the Ogun State Fire Service, police officers, and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence personnel, rushed to the scene to combat the blaze.
The fire reportedly began around 10 a.m. Thick smoke billowed from the filling station, making it too dangerous for anyone to approach. Ogun State Fire Service firefighters later arrived and successfully extinguished the flames.
According to a source, the fire erupted during the transfer of diesel from one tanker to another. The receiving tanker was the one engulfed in flames, while the diesel-delivering tanker quickly left the area to avoid the fire. The two occupants of the receiving tanker sustained severe burns and were rushed to the hospital by bystanders.
Fatai Adefala, the Director of Ogun State Fire Service, confirmed the incident and stated that those affected suffered minor injuries, receiving medical treatment at Ogun State Hospital, Ijaye. Adefala clarified that only one tanker was involved in the incident, and the fire was triggered by the pumping machine during the diesel transfer.
The Police Public Relations Officer for the state command, SP Omolola Odutola, also verified the fire incident but couldn’t confirm whether there were casualties.
