Five persons reportedly died and many were injured, following a gas explosion that occurred at Ojekunle Street, Ladipo, Mushin area of Lagos on Tuesday morning
The incident was confirmed by the South-west coordinator of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Mr. Ibrahim Farinloye.
Farinloye said one female and three male bodies had been recovered, adding that a 10-year-old, who was trapped in the explosion, died on the way to the hospital.
The fire was eventually put out while rescue operations ensued.
According to a statement from the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), the gas ignited and exploded in an “open land with shanties and shops where gas cylinders are stacked.”
However, the director-general of the agency, Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, appealed to all residents in the area to remain calm.
The Lagos Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odunmosu, while addressing journalists at the scene, said the unfortunate accident was ignited by a phone call.
He said one of the casualties was making a telephone call close to one of the gas cylinders.
“It is completely avoidable, human negligence led to it. From what I have seen there, from what I have heard, the thing blew off, someone was trying to refill the gas cylinder as well as making a call,” Odumosu said.
The scene has been cordoned off, restricting vehicular movement except for the emergency vehicles.