Funke Busari, Lagos
Four staff of a chinese restaurant, New China were among those that died and were recovered from the scene of a fire incident that resulted from a tanker explosion in Lagos on Friday.
A rescue personnel, Ibrahim Farinloye, National Emergency Management Agency who spoke on the incident said three dead bodies were recovered this morning from the restaurant.
According to him, “They are all staff of the Chinese restaurant including their Nigerian manager were recovered dead.”
The victims of the fire were caught in the inferno from a LPG gas tanker, which was moving along the Mobolaji Bank Anthony way, Ikeja.
Meanwhile, death toll has risen to five.
The incident occurred when the tanker developed a fault (leakage) and parked in front of the OPIC Buiding before it caught fire that spread all over the OPIC complex, burning about 25 vehicles and property.
Dr. Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency LASEMA confirmed that five persons have died so far.
The Chief Operating Officer of the Agency Osanyintolu further confirmed that 13 persons have been rescued.
The tanker was reported moving from Maryland inward Ikeja when the incident occurred midnight Thursday.
The Commissioner of Police in Lagos, Hakeem Odumosu led some officers of the Command and other security and safety agents like Federal Road Safety Corps, Lagos Fire Service, National Emergency Management Agency, LASEMA and NSCDC to the scene to assess and prevent suspected looters who might want to capitalise on the incident to loot goods and other items in the OPIC complex.
The Police boss through the Spokesperson of the Command, CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi informed that the police authority further liaised with the Lagos State Fire Service and other safety agencies in how the scene will be cordoned off and secured for further investigation.
The Police reiterated that 13 persons were injured during the incident and they have been taken to the hospital for proper medical attention.
The Commissioner of Police has commended the police, the general public and other security and safety agencies for their efforts towards quenching the inferno on time and saving many lives and property.
