No fewer than eight persons have been confirmed dead and many others injured in the gas explosion which rocked the Baruwa area of Ipaja in Lagos state, in the early hours of today.
Afriupdate gathered that the tragic incident happened on Thursday, October 8, as the Director-General, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, confirmed.
He said;
“The Baruwa Gas explosion occurred and the agency activated a response plan. Initial disaster assessment is as follows: casualties still being assessed but eight fatalities have been identified so far. 25 houses that are mostly bungalows, 16 lock-up shops and one primary school have been affected.
Firefighters and rescue workers are operating at the incident scene. The gas emission has been identified and curtailed. Damping down is ongoing.
Post-disaster assessment will be carried out and further updates provided”
Meanwhile, Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has expressed deep sorrow over a gas explosion that claimed lives and destroyed properties worth several millions of naira, describing the incident as a sad memory in the life of the administration.
Sanwo-Olu said the preliminary and final reports on the cause of the explosion suggested negligence on the part of the gas plant operators, noting that the government would take stiffer measures against operators of gas plants and/or any combustible items in the state to avoid future recurrence of such disaster.
He said: “The gas explosion this morning has left a sour taste in my mouth. It is a reminder of the dark episode of March this year at Abule Ado Soba when innocent lives were lost to gas explosions of monumental proportion and properties destroyed. I really can’t believe that we would witness another such incident, no matter how little.”
“I wish to therefore register my heartfelt condolences to the families of those that lost their loved ones in the fire. I pray that God grant their souls eternal rest.”
“The reports I got showed that the explosion could have been avoided if the operators of the gas plant had adhered to safety guidelines. Lives would have been saved and properties too would not have been affected.”
The governor restated his administration’s commitment to the safety of the lives and properties of Lagosians by ensuring that operators follow strict regulations in the operations of gas plants.
On this note, the governor said, the Lagos State Safety Commission (LSSC) and the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA) have been notified of the next line of action.
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The governor commended the first responders who acted promptly on the distress call and worked very quickly to contain the fire by not allowing the ruins to go beyond what we currently have.
Sanwo-Olu enjoined residents to always report any suspicious activities that may be harmful to the citizens in their neighbourhood to the appropriate state government agencies for preventive measures to be taken.
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