Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service has revealed the real cause of the explosion that rocked the Ijora-Badia area of Lagos on Sunday afternoon, injuring no fewer than 15 people.
According to a statement by the Director of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Margaret Adeseye, the explosion occurred around 4:10 p.m. inside a mini shop stocked with 25kg gas cylinders.
The shop, located within a bungalow that housed 15 self-contained rooms and seven other shops, reportedly had five gas cylinders at the time of the incident.
Adeseye attributed the explosion to the mishandling of gas, which caused a leak that was ignited by a nearby flame.
“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 confirmed.
The resulting fire, she said, was promptly extinguished by a team of firefighters from the Sari Iganmu Fire Station, with support from the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, LASEMA, the Lagos Neighbourhood Safety Corps, and LASAMBUS.
While no fatalities were recorded, 15 persons sustained varying degrees of burn injuries.
Adeseye noted that several victims were treated with first aid on-site, while others were taken to nearby hospitals for further medical care.
She also assured residents that the area has since been secured and normalcy restored.
