Residents flee as OVH petrol tank farm razes for over 20 hours
By Abimbola Abdullahi
There was a loud bang to behold. It was shocking and scary. It was an explosion from a 6,000 metric tonnes capacity petroleum tank farm belonging to OVH Energy in Terminal 1, Apapa, Lagos.
The fire, which started at about 12 noon on Thursday still rages till Friday morning, leaving the residents of Apapa local council in palpable fears.
Some residence confirmed to SlyNews that they have immediately fled the area for a safer place. Although, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has assured that the situation is under control, the residency believed that keeping away from the area is the best option.
Mrs Modinat Obalufon, said: “The explosion was so loud. The heat of the fire is killing. In fact, we cannot bear it. My family have left home since yesterday to stay with my sister in Surulere.
Another resident, Femi Ojomo said everyone in his 12 rooms building have fled for their dear lives.
“They have all packed their valuable and left for a safer place. We are really afraid because there are a lot of tank farms around here and we don’t know what will happen next.,” he said.
Acting Zonal Coordinator, SouthWest Zonal Office, NEMA, Ibrahim Farinloye said the tank on fire has 6,000 metric tonnes of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) otherwise known as petrol trapped.
He added that there are five other tanks within the vicinity, one has aviation fuel and AGO while others are empty.
“All tankers have been shot down to suffocate and facilitate prompt fire fighting,” he said.
According to him, over 20 fire tenders are on ground fighting the inferno. They are from Federal Fire Service, State Fire, Nigerian Port Authority (NPA), NNPC NIMASA, Nigeria Navy, Julius Berger, LASEMA, NIPCO, AIETO PETROLEUM. UBA, Mobil Plc, NOSDRA, and DPR, among others.
“Operations is still ongoing. Situation is under control. No threat to life,’ he stated.
However, OVH Energy, in a statement confirmed the incident, saying that the preliminary information reveals that the fire emanated from a tank within the terminal.
“Whilst an investigation has been launched to ascertain other details, we have a team of professional fire fighters on ground to manage the outbreak.
“We are happy to state that as at the time of this report, there are no casualties recorded.
“Safety remains our priority at OVH Energy as we operate under high safety standards to curb incidences of fire outbreaks as well as other health and safety risks from happening at any of our stations,” it stated.
