Five persons, including a 10-year-old boy, lost their lives following an explosion at an industrial gas retailing outlet at the Ladipo Spare Parts Market, Lagos, on Tuesday.
Ibrahim Farinloye, acting Coordinator, South-West Zonal Office, NEMA, confirmed the development in a statement in Lagos.
The statement read that the cause of the explosion, which occurred on Tuesday morning at the shop located at 33/35, Ojekunle Street, Ladipo Spare Parts Market, Lagos, had yet to be ascertained.
According to it, the shop had many industrial gas cylinders used for welding.
It stated that NEMA, the Lagos State Fire Service, the Police Disaster Management Unit and the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency responded to the distress signal and were able to contain the fire.
“Unfortunately, there were casualties. Five persons were recovered dead, including a 10-year-old boy and a woman,” it read adding that investigation by NEMA showed that the shop was earlier sealed because the side of the street was dedicated as mechanic village, which was not accessible to other users.
It added that after sometime, the seal and lock were removed ahead of the incident.
(NAN)
