Nine individuals, including a pregnant woman, sustained injuries in a gas cylinder explosion that occurred on Tuesday at Alaba Lane, Alayabiagba Community of Ajegunle-Apapa, Lagos.
According to a source who spoke to Vanguard, the explosion, which happened around 1:30 pm, affected children returning from school, with two tricycles burnt in the incident. The source mentioned that a young man suffered severe injuries, with his body peeling off, but was promptly rushed to Gbagada General Hospital.
Margaret Adeseye, the Director of Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, stated that preliminary investigations revealed that the explosion was triggered by a gas cylinder leakage, which snapped a high-tension cable and caused the fire.
“Tragically, nine individuals, including a pregnant woman and several children and adults, suffered varying degrees of burn injuries,” Adeseye said.
The fire was quickly contained through the combined efforts of the Ajegunle and Sari-Iganmu Fire Stations of the Lagos State Fire Service, along with the Federal Fire Service. However, the incident resulted in the destruction of four commercial tricycles, six lock-up shops, and part of a bungalow.
Adeseye confirmed that the injured victims were taken to the hospital for treatment, with some receiving first aid from the Lagos State Ambulance Service before being transported to Ajeromi General Hospital and Gbagada Burnt & Trauma Centre.
Upon visiting the area, it was observed that the affected area had been sealed off, with some tricycles still present in the vicinity.
