The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency has confirmed the death of nine people after a container fell on a metropolitan commercial bus, popularly known Danfo, at Ojuelegba Bridge in Lagos.

Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, permanent secretary of LASEMA, said in a statement on Sunday that the 20-ft container fell on a commercial vehicle after it “lost control.”

“Upon arrival at the scene, a truck conveying a 20ft container was found to have landed on top of a commercial bus,” Mr Oke-Osanyintolu said.

“Further investigations revealed that the bus was picking up passengers when the truck lost control and fell over the side of the bridge.”

Mr Oke-Osanyintolu said that one person was rescued while nine persons were recorded dead including two children.

He said effort were ongoing to rescue more victims. 

“After suspending the container load with the aid of the Agency’s forklift and cutting off the top of the bus with light rescue equipment, a single adult woman was extricated alive and taken to the trauma centre. 

“A total of 9 fatalities were recovered comprising of 4 adult males, 3 adult females, a girl child and a boy child.

“The Agency’s heavy duty Goliath and teams from Onipan and Cappa are on ground. The Agency’s Ambulance, LASG FIRE, FED FIRE, LASTMA and Nigeria Police have been working on this situation,” Mr Oke-Osanyintolu added.