Nigeria's tanker explosion kills 5 in Lagos

The authority of the Nigeria Fire Service on Wednesday confirmed that five persons lost their lives to a fire accident which occurred at Olodi-Apapa area of Lagos the previous day. The fire broke out when a petroleum tanker fell in the area, Razak Fadipe, Director of Lagos State Fire Service told Xinhua on phone. Goods and property worth millions of naira (1 U.S. dollar equals to 155 Naira) were destroyed, he added. Fadipe said his men, supported by those of the Nigerian Navy and private fire services, battled the fire for about five hours and worked late into the night to bring the fire under control. A police source told Xinhua that those burnt to death and injured were taken to the Gbagada and Ikeja General Hospitals, adding that the tanker which caused the fire had a problem with its brakes. The incident paralyzed business activities in the area on Wednesday as people gathered to watch the burnt vehicles, shops and buildings.