Firecrackers wreak havoc in Lagos on Boxing day.

THERE was pandemonium on Lagos Island early  Wednesday  morning as a warehouse went up in flames.

The store, which was under one of the affected buildings, was filled with fire crackers and that the inferno from the warehouse spread to many neighbouring buildings.

Only one person had, as of 4.00 p.m., been officially  confirmed dead with rescue operation still ongoing.

About  12  people were, however reported killed, according to residents of the area. 30 people were also reported injured.

No fewer than 10 buildings got burnt and later collapsed from the effect of the explosion. There were also unconfirmed reports that people were still trapped in the affected buildings.

There were also strong indications that the casualty figure may eventually rise as residents have raised the  alarm of missing friends and relatives.

The fire incident created a thick smoke, which enveloped the  heavily populated Jankara community, with smell of expended fire crackers also  filling the air.

The incident occurred around 9.00 a.m. at Okoya  Ojo Giwa Street in Oroyinyin, Jankara area of Lagos Island.

The Nigerian Tribune gathered that many residents of the Island had thought that the continual explosion that heralded the inferno was a bomb explosion, leading to many of them running for safety.

A resident of the area, who identified herself as Blessing narrated to the Nigerian Tribune that “the fire started around 9.00 a.m. in the morning. Many of us thought that it was Boko Haram.” 

 

The resident said that “we just heard a loud explosion and before we could do anything, the sound continued and an explosion occured from the store and it began to spread to nearby buildings.”

Another resident, who identified himself simply as George stated that “the effect of the explosion had many of the buildings in the area  seriously vibrating.

One Alhaji Ibraheem, who also spoke with Nigerian Tribune also claimed that about 12 people had died, “even before fire fighters and other emergency officials arrived the scene.”

He added that residents of the area had, immediately after the explosion, mobilised themselves and rescued some injured people who were rushed to hospitals around the area.

Officials of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), National Emergency Management Authority (NEMA),  Lagos State Fire Service, Nigeria  Police,  Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and Red Cross Society of Nigeria had, immediately after the incident, commenced rescue operation.

An official of Red Cross Society, Nicholas Adesila, informed newsmen that over 30 injured residents of the burnt buildings had been treated.

Ibraheem Farinloye, the spokesperson for NEMA, South-West,  later confirmed the death and the recovery of the body of one person.