No fewer than two adult males suffered severe burns on Thursday in Lagos as a fire gutted the Mobil Filling Station on Obafemi Awolowo Way, opposite Airport Hotel, Ikeja.
The cause of the fire, which is still under investigation at the time of filing this report, also affected six cars—both private and commercial.
The injured individuals were promptly rescued and given immediate medical attention by the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency’s Pre-Hospital Care Team, in collaboration with LASAMBUS, before being transferred to LASUTH for further treatment.
According to the Head of the Public Affairs Unit at LASEMA, Nosa Okunbor, the fire was quickly brought under control and contained by the agency’s LRT and the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, preventing it from spreading further to surrounding buildings.
He said that based on further investigations conducted at the incident scene, the fire was attributed to the explosion of a 12-ton gas truck, with an unknown registration number, which affected several cars within the filling station and portions of a nearby building.
“In response to distress calls received by the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, LASEMA, through the 767/112 Toll-Free Emergency lines at 1108 hrs, the agency activated its Tiger Response Team from the Command and Control Centre, Alausa, Ikeja.
“Upon arrival of the Tiger Team at the incident scene, it was observed that the Mobil Filling Station at the aforementioned location was engulfed in flames.
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“Further investigations at the scene revealed that the fire was caused by the explosion of a 12-ton gas truck, with an unknown registration number, which impacted several cars within the filling station and portions of a nearby building,” he said.
Regarding damages, he said that six cars (both commercial and private vehicles) were affected, while the second floor of a two-story building beside the gas station was also impacted.
“There were no fatalities as a result of the incident. Two adult males suffered severe burns, while others sustained minor injuries,” the spokesperson said.
According to him, safety measures were activated at the incident site to safeguard responders while the operation lasted.
“LRT is coordinating the rescue operation, which is being conducted in collaboration with other first responders. All responders are working fervently to ensure a quick and successful operation to restore normalcy to the environment,” he said.
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