Eight persons have been confirmed dead following a gas plant explosion that occurred in Baruwa area of Ipaja in Lagos state.
According to a statement by the Director-General of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), the incident occurred at around 6:00 am on Thursday 8 October 2020.
Confirming the incident, LASEMA Director-General, Dr Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, in a statement, said, “On arrival at the scene of the incident, it was observed that there was a gas explosion.
“Further investigation at the scene revealed that the gas station belonging to Best Roof Cooking Gas exploded by burning buildings around”.
While further assessment of the area is still ongoing, a tweet by the emergency response agency, disclosed that an initial disaster assessment revealed that 8 fatalities have been identified while many were injured in the explosion around Unity Bus-Stop on Candos Road, Baruwa.
Several properties were also affected including 25 houses (mostly bungalows), 16 lock-up shops and a Primary School.
“Firefighters and rescue workers are operating at the incident scene. Gas emission has been identified and curtailed. Damping down is ongoing” said the director.
An official of the Nigerian Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) said a generator triggered the fire. This incident is coming barely two weeks after a tanker explosion occurred in the Iju, Ajuwon area of the state.
