Panic erupted on Tuesday afternoon as a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) vehicle was gutted by fire on the Third Mainland Bridge, triggering severe traffic disruption and anxiety among motorists.
The incident, which occurred around 1pm near the Adekunle end of the bridge on the Iyana Oworo-bound lane, forced many road users to slow down abruptly, while others sought alternative routes to escape the gridlock.
The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority confirmed the development in a brief statement, noting that the high-capacity bus suddenly caught fire while in motion.
“A high-capacity bus is currently on fire on the Third Mainland Bridge by Adekunle, inward Iyana Oworo, and this is impacting traffic flow,” the agency said, adding that its officers were immediately deployed to manage the situation.
Videos circulating on social media showed the BRT bus completely engulfed in flames, with thick smoke billowing into the air as vehicles lined up behind the scene. The inferno led to a massive traffic buildup stretching from Adekunle towards Iyana Oworo.
Although no casualty was recorded, the incident once again raised concerns about vehicle safety on one of the country’s busiest bridges, which serves as a critical link between the Lagos Mainland and Island.
Officials of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service later arrived at the scene and successfully brought the fire under control, preventing it from spreading to other vehicles or infrastructure.
Traffic officials were also seen diverting motorists away from the affected section to ease congestion as emergency operations continued.
As of the time of filing this report, the cause of the fire remained unclear, with authorities expected to commence investigations to determine what triggered the incident.
