At least 15 people were injured in a gas explosion on Sunday afternoon in Ijora Badia, Apapa Iganmu LCDA of Lagos State.
In a statement, Margaret Adeseye, Director of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, confirmed that the incident occurred around 4:10 p.m. and involved a 25kg gas cylinder in a mini shop containing four others. The shop was part of a bungalow that included 15 self-contained rooms and seven additional shops.
Adeseye explained that the explosion was triggered by a gas leak caused by mishandling, which ignited upon contact with a nearby flame, leading to the fire and resulting injuries.
“It was a case of poor handling of gas products, which unfortunately allowed gas to escape and come in contact with a flame. This triggered the explosion. The resulting fire was swiftly extinguished, and the remains of the gas cylinders were safely evacuated. The danger was completely averted, and normalcy has since returned to the area” Adeseye stated.
Furthermore, she confirmed that 15 individuals sustained burn injuries in the explosion, noting that there were no fatalities and none of the injuries were life-threatening. Some victims received first aid at the scene, while others were taken to nearby hospitals for further care.
The director added that, the fire was extinguished through the joint efforts of firefighters from the Sari Iganmu Fire Station, LASEMA officials, the Lagos Neighbor hood Safety Corps, and LASAMBUS, the state’s emergency medical service.
