No fewer than 11unidentified bodies have reportedly been recovered from the scene of the Sunday morning blast in the Abule Ado area of Lagos.
The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency boss, Dr Femi Oke-Osanyintiolu, reportedly confirmed the casualty figure.
With the rescue
process still ongoing, observers believe that more bodies might further be
recovered.
The injured victims, according to LASEMA officials, have been
evacuated to the hospital for treatment.
Earlier, the National
Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) had stated that the explosion, which
occurred around the International Trade Fair Complex axis of the State, was not
caused by a disruption of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC)
oil pipeline.
The Acting Coordinator, Lagos Territorial
Office of NEMA, Mr. Ibrahim Farinloye, made the clarification in an
interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.
Farinloye said contrary to information earlier put out on the social media, the explosion which occurred at about 9a.m was unconnected to pipeline vandalism.
“From the information given by officials of the Lagos State Fire Service who are currently on ground, the explosion is not connected to pipeline but might have occurred in a factory located in the Abule Ado area.
“Emergency responders are on ground while others are still on their way to the scene.
The situation is under control and we hope to get more information soon to ascertain its cause,” he said.
Farinloye said the NNPC had however shutdown the pipeline passing through the area as a precautionary measure after the corporation was notified of the incident.
He also confirmed
that several buildings were affected by the explosion, which was heard several
kilometers away in many parts of the State including Amuwo Odofin, Ijegun,
Okota and Ajao Estate.
Meanwhile,
fright-stricken parents have been
rushing to a nearby Bethlehem Girls Secondary School to take their wards home.
Reports say the blast shook buildings in the school, so much that the students, out of fear, ran helter-skelter.