Three Killed as Gas Explosion Rocks Ajao Estate in Lagos

Matilda Omonaiye/

A gas explosion has killed three persons and injured two others at Ajao Estate, along the Murtala Muhammed International Airport Road in Lagos.

NewsmakersNG learnt from the spokesman of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Mr Ibrahim Farinloye that the explosion which occurred at about 7 pm came from a panel beater’s gas cylinder.

According to Farinloye, three unidentified persons were killed by the explosion and two others were rescued with severe burns.

“Seven shops were partially affected. The explosion occurred while the technician was trying to up his Oxycytelene flame popularly known as cabad’s cylinder,” Farinloye stated.

Confirming the incident, the Director-General, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, said the fire had been extinguished, adding that bodies were recovered from the scene of the incident.

He said, “The agency received distress calls and upon arrival at the incident scene, it was discovered that there was an explosion at Afariogun Street, Ajao Estate.

“Investigations revealed that the explosion originated from a shop occupied by a gas refilling business. A total of nine shops were affected by the inferno.

“The fire has been extinguished by the combined efforts of LRU fire and Lagos State Fire Service. Two bodies were retrieved within the debris, recovery and retrieval ongoing.”

The Acting General-Manager, Lagos State Fire Service, Margaret Adeseye, when contacted, said, “There was an explosion, we have two presumed dead and one victim was taken to the hospital.

“According to the information gathered when my men got to the scene of the incident, an explosion from a shop selling gas led to the fire outbreak. Also, six shops collapsed due to the incident.”

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