Thursday, October 4, 2007

Tuesday Night Fire disaster.


“Life… so uncertain, so unpredictable!”

The truth in the above statement once again came to fore two days ago; some minutes after 9pm on Tuesday night to be exact.

A Tanker carrying PMS(Premium motor spirit), Petrol as most of us know it lost control along Ikorodu road by Stadium bustop in Lagos. The petrol tank oveturned onto the highway and exploded into flames. This was happening in the thick of traffic (you don’t want to know what a typical lagos traffic is like!). Needless to say, several cars, buses and their occupants were roasted alive on that road. These were people headed home to rest after the hustle and bustle of the day. Am quite sure most of them were already imagining themselves in the comfort of their homes (I do that sometimes when am caught in traffic) not knowing that disaster was just a moment away.

On that fateful day at about the same time, I was also caught in traffic (thankfully not on Ikorodu road by stadium bustop) somewhere along Gbagada/Oshodi expressway. I had left the office at about 7pm hoping to get home latest by 8pm. Usually it takes me about 45mins to 1hour to get home and I wasn’t expecting anything different on that day. Unfortunately for me, the traffic on my route was HELL! As at after 9pm, your’s truly was still sweating it out in Lagos traffic. I even dozed off to sleep at some point and hit the bumper of the car in front of me. Thank God nothing happened to the car ( I for pay gbese!) but my darling baby was slightly bruised. Don’t blame me o I was REALLY tired.

After that happened, I needed to keep awake so I turned on the car stereo and tuned into some station that was jamming some cool songs. I soon started bobbing my head to the music and the sleep cleared from my eyes. Suddenly the breaking news came in. A petrol tanker had exploded along Ikorodu road and the fire was raging on furiously. The radio presenter called on the relevant authorities (In this case, Fire service) to act fast and save the lives of people caught in the fuselage. As I listened to the news, I quickly said a prayer for the unfortunate people that were involved and hoped that the Fire Service people would respond rapidly and quell the situation knowing in my heart that was probably a tall wish. Who doesn’t know that in Naija, whenever there is a fire outbreak the fire fighters get to the scene hours after the fire starts sometimes with no water, Pity!)

At that moment, it struck me that it could possibly be me on that bridge fighting for my life(God forbid bad thing sha!). In fact just around me in the traffic were lots of petrol tankers too (seems like they all do their deliveries at night). I wondered what if one of them suddenly lost control, overturned on the road and exploded into flames roasting all of us on that road like it was happening on Ikorodu road at that same time??? The thought that came to my mind was “na only God dey save person o!”. It could be anyone…they were just unfortunate. Can we say it was a case of being in the wrong place at the wrong time or what?

Wednesday morning as I drove to work, I tuned on the radio hoping to hear something about the previous night’s incident. It was there alright in the news and it saddened me to learn that the fire had claimed lots of lives. The innocent lives didn’t stand a chance in that fire explosion. Some had tried to flee their cars in the bid to escape but they still got roasted. These were people’s parents, brothers, sisters, friends, children! Perhaps I even had a friend there!! A pregnant woman was also roasted alive, Terrible!!! And you know the annoying part of it all, the fire fighters who never fail to disappoint showed up one whole hour after the fire started despite the fact that their office is located just a few meters from the scene of the fire.

I write this post with a heavy heart and I’d like everyone reading this to pause for a moment now and say a prayer for the unfortunate souls that perished in that incident.

May their souls rest in prefect peace, Amen.

50 comments:

Unknown said...

DAMN..!! Soo sad..!!

Nasty way to go..wouldn't even wish that for my enemies..

Makes one wonder about llife doesn't it...??

princesa said...

@obi yea. Real Nasty!

ExcitedJade said...

hello, darling.. i still dey naija oh.. thanks for ur lovely comments..can i have ur mobile number, so we can talk if nopt meet up..laff

Femme said...

its a real pity. i heard the news too and becos i know that area a bit well i also know how near the fire station is.
i hope no one i know was near the stadium.

ps
how are u?

princesa said...

@excitedjade,Babes longest time!
Would love to meet up too. Dont have ur email, so where do i send my mobile no to? Wait a min...lemme check ur blog to see if i can find it there.

@femme, my sister i dey fine o! I hope so too.

Unknown said...

i came here to kach you.....

:D

lol at chidi....

I am so sorry for the loss, may their soul rest in perfect peace. That is a really horrible way to die....

:(

pammy

Unknown said...

Devastating
Saddening
yet unshocking

When will we stand up to what we are being called?
Fire fighters should be extinct in 9ja as far as I'm concerned.
Imagine this......

this is is very sad. I don't even know what to type

Lord please
please and pleaseeeeeeeeeeeee
comfort the victim's family

Andrew F. Alalade said...

That was really crazy! Such things just freak one out.
Princesa, nice pics!!! Thanks for ur post.

princesa said...

@pammy, lol you didnt still catch me! On chidi...i don promise say i go try na!

@olamild, i understand ur feelings too dear. Its really a shame for a country where they dont understand the phrase:"Emergency rescue".

@andy,thanks too.

♥♫♪nyemoni♫♪♥ said...

May God give the families and friends of the departed the fortitude to bear the loss...

tks for checkin up on me...

Nonesuch said...

That is my normal route going home o. I got to Costain and decided to go through Brewries even though Eric Moore is really bad now. I still cant get over the fact that I could be one of the people dead.
DH called to ask if i was home cos he know that was my route. He didnt tell me about the fire till he got home.

Babawilly said...

This is sad, too sad. Accidents happen but na wetin.
Oil gas explosions, fake kerosine exploding, oil spills, congested roads, plane crashes. Accidents happen but I say na wetin!
If roads were not so congested perhaps the death toil would have been less.
People dey die too much for 9ja. Life expectancy below 42 years. The solution is political. Na so so omashe we dey talk.
Lagos even the whole Nigeria has no ambulance service.
I am sad. Too sad. I can go on for 6 straight hours of Lamentation. Hate hearing these things.
It is really true- the wages of sin (here Egunje and corruption) is death. Big man chop money, poor man and big man die. With all the oil money, the standard of life ( and even standard of death papa) is so so low.
Sorry for rant. I will probably cool down in 3 days.
May their souls rest in peace.

Orientatednaijababe said...

This is so sad....Only God can watch over us.

May their soul rest in perfect peace.

Aijay said...

Life.. Sigh*
This is so sad.
May their souls r.i.p.

Admin UD said...

sad, sad, and sadder...

(seems like they all do their deliveries at night)

...you know why they do that, DON'T YO??

diary of a G said...

May theis souls R.I.P.P
This is so unfortunate

cally-waffybabe said...

Amen!!! How sad. Thank God you weren't near there o. Damn those Naija hold ups as well. How person no go sleep? Babe abeg keep alert when driving. Play loud music, chew some gum, just do anything to stay alert. I hope you're good now babe?
It is very well.

shhhh said...

very sad

LurLar said...

May their souls rest in peace!!!

princesa said...

@nyemoni, nice to have you back. I was getting worried o!

@nonesuch, thank God for your life dear. He wont let bad thing meet us in Jesus name, Amen.

@babawilly, man that was some serious ranting there! This country tire person sef!!!

@orientednaijababe, aijay,DOG, Lurlar, Amen o!

princesa said...

@ugoD, I dont know why o! Can you tell dude?

@TLKS, really sad.

Mommy said...

*Very very very veryyyyy loooooooong sigh*
Imagine humans roasting and no fire rescue. Even if they fire rescuers abi na fire brigade or warever they are called got there on time, they'd probably have complained that they hadn't any water.
Hmmmmm Lord have mercy!

princesa said...

@mommy. The situation is really pathetic. I heard of an incident where the fire fighters had to even use N5 satchet water(pure water) to try to put out a burning house. Imagine the concobility!

Atutupoyoyo said...

Amen o. Heard about this just yesterday. I will not begin to talk of emergency services in Nigeria as I will get too angry. I will rather use up my emotions to refelct on the live that were lost.

Stay safe

Chika said...

so sad...too sad!

bighead said...

Mehnn what have I been listening to? Didn't even hear about it. Gat to cut down on Paramore.

The fire service gave us a talk the other day at the office where the talker specifically told us that we should not expect much from the fire service with the current state of things and fire-fighting would have to be an individual thing for now. So sad...

No sleep for wheel again o! Infact, we should get yu a driver...

princesa said...

@atutu, thanks joo.
@chika, hmm hmm

Arewa said...

My heart goes out to anyone who lost someone in that tragedy. May thier souls rest in perfect peace.
Thank God u were no where on that route.Things happen for a reason.

Arewa said...

Thanks for stopping by my blog ooh .. do come back soon and have a read. Share my world!

princesa said...

@bighead,you dey for lagos wey you no hear wetin happen so???
You should definitely cut down on 'paramore'(whatever dat is)!

The fire service...they actually said that?!?! Shame no catch dem sef.

I really need a driver o! Care to apply??lol!

princesa said...

@arewa, will do dear. Infact am headed there rightaway! I saw my name on ur blog roll too...thanks.

Arewa said...

Ur welcome hon ......thats what blogville is all about..x x x nuff love.

Ms. Catwalq said...

Hmn
*sigh*
na wah o
ehn?
i agree that God is always in control. It was the time of those people. I just wish they did not have to go so horribly if they were to go at all.
I am so grateful for each day joo


About that pic on Cally-Waffy's blog. If that is me, then I am in trouble. When I have children, they will just be falling out and I will need like six or seven "uprisings" to get off

HAPPPYYYYYYY BAIDAY JARE!!!!!
belated abi?

Afrobabe said...

This is truely terrible news fah...

Kai its only God oh...

Unknown said...

This is so terrible. May thier souls rest in peace.

Princessa, no vex. 24 hrs is suddenly not enough for me in blogville. Have had to skip a lot of blog rounds. Will make it up to you. XOXOXOXOXO

LurLar said...

May God protect us from all the dangers out there...May their souls rest in peace.

cally-waffybabe said...

Babe, i have put up three new HAWT updates according to your request...

Mrs Somebody said...

This is so sad.May the souls of the departed rest in perfect peace.Amen.
Our safety is of the Lord.


Princesa have you called that guy yet?or sent him a text message?

classybabe said...

May the souls who perished in the explosion rest in peace.
Really sad,it could have been anyone caught on that bridge.God help us all

Thirty + said...

Just like that o, some of them may have even been snoozing on the wheel. Talking of snoozing Princess, be careful o...

May their souls rest in peace Amen.

Times like this makes you to value life and how fortunate to be among the living.

We only have one life and we should live it well because you never know when....God should grant us all long life.

princesa said...

@catwalq, lol@ ur pikins falling out of ur 'kini'.It cant be dat bad girl!
Na now ur mate dey wish happi birthday, eh? Almost two months after?!?! Anyway thanks sweet.

@afrobabe, only God abeg!
@calabargal, i go celebrate o! This one wey i see you for my blog today. I understand dear and coupled with ur new job sef. Blog rounds...they are exhaustive abeg!

@lurlar, Amen.
@CWG, babes i trust you! This new posts must be steaming Hawt!I go reach ya end soon.

@mrs somebody, hmmm...another runaway! You ask if i called the inmate? Nope i didnt and i dont feel guity anymore. Stumbled on the lil'paper he wrote his phone number on last weekend and i threw it away!

princesa said...

@classybae, Amen to that!
@30+,Thanks for the concern dear. will be more careful henceforth :)
I feel you one living our lives well cos you dont know when you will lose it.

36 INCHES OF BROWN LEGS said...

hmn, i havent been able to comment and i cant even do a post about about this, my car was a few cars infront of the tanker, i literaly felt the heat of the explosion. i dont even know what to say...

princesa said...

@36, Wow! Babes!! Thank God for you o!I feel you on not knowing what to say.
Am so glad you weren't affected.

An-Igbo-Dude said...

It shall not be our portion in Jesus Name

May their souls rest in perfect peace

bighead said...

Dear Ma,

APPLICATION FOR THE POSITION OF DRIVER

I hereby apply for the position of driver for your humble self. I'm polite, careful and punctual. I have never driven with an 'L' sign and have no license but that can be easily bought.

My recommended remuneration is N20m per annum, I will drive no cars below Honda Element and you will always sit in the front with me (no owner's corner for you). I know you will gladly consider my application and grant yourself the uplifting experience of being driven by a celebrity driver, an interesting one at that too. I enthusiastically anticipate your response.

Yours faithfully,
Big Head

princesa said...

@anibodude, Amen o!
@bighead,lol! 20M ke?!?! Even my boss never earn that one!
Even if i sell my motor sef, e no go fit pay u!
Honda Element Ko, Infinity Jeep ni!

Unknown said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Arewa said...

Hey Hon.. how r u doing and how r things going with ur momsi... Just thought i shld check up on u...Dont worry too much...ALL WILL BE WELL BY GODS GRACE.

Thanks for being true to ur word and reading my past blogs..As for breaking the news to momsi .. i will be doing that when she gets home next weekend..God help me ooo!!
Anyway u know Queen of my catle is accusing us of scaring Don to the extent that he refuses to leave a comment if he is the first person to comment on her blog.....all i say to that is Rubbish..lol.
oh yeah and Thanks for making me ur first ghanaian blogfriend...muwah x x !!Stay blessed

princesa said...

@arewa, babes you rock!
Thanks for checking up on me.