Fire in Lagos forces 11 families out of their homes
A gas explosion triggered a fire in the Ojokoro area of Lagos State on Sunday, displacing at least 11 families and destroying a 14-room apartment. The fire, reported to have started around 2 pm, originated from the cooking gas used by one of the occupants while frying meat, causing the cooking oil to catch fire.
Among those injured were a four-year-old girl named Faridat Shittu, her grandfather, grandmother, and uncle. They sustained varying degrees of injuries and were receiving treatment at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital. The incident left the affected families homeless. Ibrahim Farinloye, the Lagos State Coordinator of the National Emergency Management Authority, confirmed the details.
Farinloye reported, "A four-year-old girl is in critical condition at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital following a cooking gas explosion that devastated her parents' residence at 1, Odubanwo Street, Off Olaniyi Street, Gbinrinmi in Ojokoro LCDA, Lagos.
"Three other adults, namely the grandfather, grandmother, and uncle, are receiving burn care for various degrees of burns resulting from the incident that occurred yesterday. The grandmother, experiencing severe pain, explained to the NEMA team at the hospital that she was frying meat when the oil unexpectedly caught fire. Efforts to control it exceeded their capacity, leading to the explosion of the cooking gas.
"The little girl, Faridat Shittu, was asleep in the room when the incident occurred at approximately 1400 hours but was successfully rescued by community members along with other injured victims. The entire building, consisting of 14 rooms and shops, collapsed entirely due to the intensity of the explosion, leaving 11 families homeless."
A fire broke out at a plank market situated in the Awori bus stop area of Abule Egba, Lagos State, on Sunday, causing the destruction of goods and property valued at millions of naira. The Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service reported the loss of five minibusses, two pickup vans, two cars, and goods during the incident that occurred around 3:00 pm.
A video sent to our correspondent revealed a significant portion of the sawmill reduced to ashes, while a smaller section remained untouched by the fire. Shopkeepers made efforts to salvage their unaffected items as fire departments worked to extinguish the flames.
Ahmodu Shakiru, the Director of Public Affairs for the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, revealed that the fire originated from the breaking of a high-tension power cable along a line of market stalls, causing a loud bang and a subsequent explosion of fire.
Additionally, fire incidents occurred in Oyo State and Kwara State, resulting in numerous injuries and significant damage to goods.
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