Fire Guts BRT Bus on Third Mainland Bridge, Triggers Gridlock
A high-capacity Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) vehicle was engulfed by fire on the Third Mainland Bridge on Tuesday afternoon, causing major traffic disruption for commuters heading towards the Iyana Oworo axis of Lagos State.
The incident occurred around 1:00 p.m. near the Adekunle section of the bridge, according to the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA).
In a series of updates on its official X (formerly Twitter) handle, LASTMA confirmed that the burning bus obstructed traffic on a key inbound lane of the bridge, one of the busiest transport corridors in the state.
“A high-capacity bus is on fire on the Third Mainland Bridge, by Adekunle, inwards Iyana Oworo, affecting traffic,” the agency stated. “Efforts are ongoing to put out the fire, and our officers are on ground managing the traffic situation.”
A subsequent update revealed that operatives of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service had arrived at the scene and were actively battling the blaze, while traffic officials worked to ease the resulting congestion.
As of the time of reporting, no casualties had been recorded. The cause of the fire remains unknown.
The Third Mainland Bridge, which spans approximately 11.8 kilometres and is among the longest bridges in Africa, carries a massive volume of daily traffic and is frequently impacted by accidents, vehicle breakdowns, and emergency incidents, often leading to prolonged gridlock.
Authorities have urged motorists to exercise patience and consider alternative routes while emergency operations continue.
