The Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service has revealed that the explosion that shook the Ijora-Badia area on Sunday afternoon, injuring at least 15 people, was caused by the mishandling of gas.
The incident, which occurred around 4:10 p.m., took place in a small shop that stored 25kg gas cylinders. The shop, located within a bungalow that also contained 15 self-contained rooms and seven other shops, was found to have five gas cylinders at the time of the explosion.
Margaret Adeseye, Director of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, noted that the explosion was a result of poor handling of the gas. A gas leak formed and came into contact with a nearby flame, which ultimately triggered the blast.
“It was a case of poor handling of gas products, which unfortunately allowed gas to escape and come in contact with a flame. This triggered the explosion,” she said.
Emergency services quickly responded to the scene, with firefighters from the Sari Iganmu Fire Station leading efforts to control the blaze. Support was also provided by the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), the Lagos Neighbourhood Safety Corps, and LASAMBUS. Thanks to their swift action, the fire was quickly extinguished.
Although there were no fatalities, 15 individuals sustained varying degrees of burn injuries. Several of the victims received first aid on-site, while others were transported to nearby hospitals for additional medical treatment.
Adeseye assured the public that the area had been secured, and normalcy had been restored to the community following the incident.
