Gas explosion rocks Lagos market, destroys several shops

Gas explosion rocks Lagos market, destroys several shops

Panic swept through the Orile-Iganmu area of Lagos on Sunday after a gas explosion tore through a section of the bustling Orisunmibare Market, off Baale Street, destroying several shops and sending residents fleeing in terror.

The inferno, which erupted around 2:13 p.m., was traced to a gas retail outlet reportedly storing multiple cylinders. Eyewitnesses said the fire spread rapidly, consuming nearby stalls where traders used camp gas for cooking.

“I was inside when it happened,” said a resident identified simply as Ejem. “There are three filling stations around here, and one of the boys at the gas shop was said to be pressing his phone when the explosion occurred.”

Though no lives were lost, goods worth millions of naira were reduced to ashes. One person sustained a minor hand injury.

Confirming the incident, Director of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Mrs. Margaret Adeseye, said firefighters responded swiftly and brought the blaze under control.

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Tanker Crash Sparks Fresh Fears

Earlier that same day, another emergency unfolded along the Apapa-Oshodi Expressway near the Berger Car Depot, where a 33,000-litre petrol tanker with registration number AAB-942YC collided with a Mercedes-Benz Jeep (LSR 606HX) and seven parked vehicles.

The impact caused the tanker to spill its contents, raising fears of a potential inferno. However, quick intervention by the Ajegunle and Ijegun-Egba fire crews averted disaster.

“The remaining fuel was safely transferred to another tanker, and recovery of the damaged vehicles is ongoing,” Adeseye said.

Man Rescued from Manhole in Maryland

In a separate incident on Saturday, a 55-year-old man was rescued after falling into an underground drainage channel along Ikorodu Road, near Idiroko Bus Stop, inward Maryland.

The Lagos Fire Service received a distress call at 12:24 p.m., prompting the Ilupeju Fire Station to deploy a rescue team. Using specialized equipment, responders conducted a confined-space operation and successfully pulled the man out alive by 3:41 p.m. He was handed over to officers from the Anthony Police Division for further care.

Fire Service Reiterates Commitment

Despite the spate of emergencies within 48 hours, Adeseye praised the resilience and professionalism of her teams.

“All incidents were efficiently contained without any loss of life,” she said, reaffirming the agency’s commitment to safeguarding lives and property across the state.

Gas explosion rocks Lagos market, destroys several shops