5 die in Lagos fire outbreak
Five persons burnt to death yesterday when a high tension cable fell on a vehicle that was carrying petrol at Oworonshoki area of Lagos State.
Though, the identities of the deceased persons could not be ascertained as at press time yesterday, Daily Trust gathered that a pregnant woman was among the victims.
The fire outbreak which started at about 1.45am was contained by emergency workers from the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) police and state government officials around 4am.
A witness said while it was raining, a high tension cable fell on a vehicle allegedly carrying petrol.
“There are series of sparks from the cable when it fell. The sparks later triggered off huge fire which engulfed the vehicle,” the witness said.
NEMA South-west spokesman, Ibrahim Farinloye, who confirmed the incident, said men from both the state and federal fire service battled the fire for hours before it was contained.
“It was the timely intervention of emergency workers that prevented the fire from spreading to nearby houses,” he said.
Farinloye, who also confirmed that five persons died in the incident, added that NEMA officials responded to two other incidents which would have claimed many lives at Coconut Bus Stop area of Apapa, and Market Bus Stop area of Ogba.
He said the one at Coconut Bus Stop involved a petrol tanker carrying fuel which fell, spilling all its content in the middle of the road.
He advised Lagosians to exercise outmost caution at this period of transition from dry to rainy season, adding that the movement of wind could be very heavy and could take control of unguarded fire which might not be easily contained.
The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Public Relations Officer (PRO), Kunle Adebayo, said the bodies of the deceased have been deposited at Gbagada General Hospital mortuary.
Similarly, two buildings of 24 rooms were yesterday destroyed by fire at Ajegunle area of Apapa, while a two story building located within University of Lagos was completely destroyed by fire on Wednesday night. No life was lost in the UNILAG and Ajegunle fire incidents, but property worth millions of naira were destroyed, it was gathered.