Five persons have been confirmed dead from a gas explosion that occurred Tuesday morning in the densely populated Ladipo market located in the Mushin part of Lagos.
Emergency responders said the figure comprised three men, a woman and a child.
The incident occurred at about 08:42am at 21 Ojekunle Street, off Ladipo Road and fire service officials were said to have been contacted immediately.
Southwest Coordinator of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Mr. Ibrahim Farinloye, confirmed the casualty figure as five.
Farinloye said the child, aged about 10 years, was rescued alive but died before arriving at the hospital.
The woman who also died in the fire was identified as Iyaa Funmi.
Remnants of what looks like a workshop, after the blast
The explosion occurred at a property used for mixed business activities including a beer parlour, mechanic workshop, gas shop among others.
It was however not clear if there were more victims in the premises at the time of the fire but the Lagos State Fire Service said rescue and recovery operations were ongoing.
A cross-section of emergency workers and sympathizers
The Director of Lagos State Fire Service, Mrs. Margaret Adeseye, said: “The gas incident, which was reported at 08:42 hours Tuesday morning via the state emergency reporting platform, was swiftly responded to by a combination of first and secondary responders.
“On arrival at the scene, it was discovered that it is an open space used for several activities including a beer parlour, mechanic workshop, auto spare parts business and gas shop amongst others, while housing a makeshift structure.
“Three male adults were recovered as rescue and recovery operations continue and the environment isolated from causing any further secondary incident.
“Preliminary investigations to establish the fact of the incident continue and further discovery will be made public.”
Meanwhile, Lagos Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu, promptly visited the scene of a gas explosion, and ordered the scene cordoned off.