As many as 13 people were injured to varying degrees Thursday evening in a liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) tanker explosion at Mobolaji Bank Anthony Way, across from Sheraton Hotels and Towers, Ikeja.
About 25 cars were destroyed as a result of the explosion at around 10:32 p.m.
Mr. Ibrahim Farinloye, Acting Zone Coordinator, Southwest Zone Office, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), confirmed the development to the Nigeria News Agency (NAN) in Ikeja on Friday.
Farinloye said the blast plunged the environment into panic due to the massive fire caused by the incident.
He said the explosion was caused by a leak while the LPG tanker was in motion.
“The resulting fire spread with the wind to the premises of the Ogun State Property Investment Company (OPIC) Plaza next to the Sheraton hotels, which houses various business outfits, including a Chinese restaurant.
“The blaze was extinguished around 12:30 p.m., after the concerted efforts of five fire trucks from the Lagos State Fire Department and two trucks from the Fire Management Agency’s response unit. emergencies in Lagos State.
“Initial search and rescue activities revealed that 13 people suffered burns of varying degrees. Of that number, nine are men while four are women, ”Farinloye said.
According to him, the affected victims were treated at Lagos State University Hospital (LASUTH) for first aid.
He said four of the seriously injured victims were later transferred to the trauma and burn center at Gbagada General Hospital in Lagos.
“The preliminary assessment of damaged vehicles indicated that around 25 have been destroyed to date.
“A full post-disaster assessment of the extent of general damage would be done later today,” Farinloye added.
He said Lagos State Command Police Commissioner Hakeem Odumosu led the team that took over crowd control and helped restore normalcy.
