Fire guts BRT bus on third Mainland Bridge, triggers gridlock near Adekunle

Panic broke out among motorists on Tuesday afternoon after a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) vehicle was engulfed by fire on the Third Mainland Bridge in Lagos, causing severe traffic disruption along the busy corridor.

The incident occurred at about 1:00 p.m. near the Adekunle section of the bridge, on the lane heading towards Iyana Oworo. The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) confirmed the development in a statement shared on its official X (formerly Twitter) handle.

According to LASTMA, the high-capacity BRT bus suddenly caught fire, triggering anxiety among motorists and commuters who were forced to slow down, stop, or divert to alternative routes to avoid the affected area.

Videos and images circulated on social media showed the bus completely consumed by flames, with thick plumes of black smoke billowing into the sky and reducing visibility on the bridge. The scene led to an immediate traffic buildup, stretching from Adekunle towards Iyana Oworo.

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“A high-capacity bus is currently on fire on the Third Mainland Bridge by Adekunle, inward Iyana Oworo, and this is impacting traffic flow,” LASTMA said in its initial update. “Our personnel are on ground managing traffic, while efforts are ongoing to extinguish the fire.”

Further updates from the agency indicated that operatives of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service were swiftly deployed to the scene and successfully worked to bring the blaze under control, preventing it from spreading to other vehicles or sections of the bridge.

Traffic officials were also seen redirecting vehicles and managing the congestion as emergency responders tackled the situation. Despite the intensity of the fire, no injuries or loss of life were reported.

As of the time of filing this report, the cause of the fire had not been established, while authorities continued to assess the situation and clear the affected section of the bridge to restore normal traffic flow.