17 Nov How gas explosion killed five in Lagos
Five persons were killed in the gas explosion that occurred at Ojekunle Street, Ladipo, Mushin area of Lagos on Tuesday morning, Ibrahim Farinloye, the South-west coordinator of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), has said.
Mr Farinloye said one female and three male bodies were recovered. He added that a 10-year-old, who was trapped in the explosion, died on the way to the hospital.
According to a statement from the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), the gas ignited and exploded in an “open land with shanties and shops where gas cylinders are stacked.”
Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, the director-general of the agency, appealed to all residents in the area to remain calm.
The Lagos Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odunmosu, while addressing journalists at the scene, said the unfortunate accident was ignited by a phone call.
He said one of the casualties was making a telephone call close to one of the gas cylinders.
“It is completely avoidable, human negligence led to it. From what I have seen there, from what I have heard, the thing blew off, someone was trying to refill the gas cylinder as well as making a call,” Mr Odumosu said.
The scene has been cordoned off restricting vehicular movement except for the emergency vehicles.
Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.