On the morning of August 9, 2024, a significant gas explosion occurred at a Mobil Filling Station located near the Airport Hotel in Ikeja, Lagos State. The incident resulted in injuries to at least nine people and caused extensive damage to several vehicles parked in the vicinity. Fortunately, no fatalities were reported.
The explosion took place around 10:49 a.m., sending shockwaves through the surrounding area and instilling panic among local residents and business owners. An attendant at the filling station, who wished to remain anonymous, recounted the chaotic moments leading up to the explosion. He described hearing a loud noise emanating from the gas point just as he was serving a customer. Before he could comprehend the situation, flames had already engulfed multiple vehicles parked near the gas truck.
He stated, “I was attending to a customer when I heard a loud noise from the gas point, and before I could imagine what was going on, the vehicles parked close to the gas truck were already gutted by fire. My colleagues and I, along with customers, quickly ran away as a gas truck was refilling the storage tank at that moment.”
An eyewitness, who identified himself as Tunde, emphasized the rapid spread of the fire, which made it nearly impossible for anyone to evacuate their vehicles in time. “The fire spread so quickly that no one could wait to move out of their vehicles from the station. Before the firefighters arrived, we did our best to contain it, but it was overwhelming. It could have been disastrous if the area had been crowded due to fuel scarcity,” he explained.
Another witness, a fruit seller named Adamu, was in the vicinity when the explosion occurred. He indicated that the fire ignited while the gas tanker was discharging its contents into an above-ground storage tank. “The explosion was powerful, and I saw yellow buses taking at least three people to the hospital,” he recounted.
Damilola Oke-Osanyintolu, the Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Emergency Maintenance Agency, later corroborated Adamu’s account. He revealed that preliminary investigations indicated a damaged pipe on an eight-ton LPG gas cylinder during the discharge process led to a rapid gas leak, which ignited and caused the explosion. Oke-Osanyintolu assured that further investigations would be conducted to thoroughly examine the incident’s cause.
The explosion resulted in severe burns for two adult males, while seven others suffered minor injuries. Approximately ten vehicles, including both commercial and private ones, were damaged, and parts of a nearby two-storey building also sustained damage. Oke-Osanyintolu confirmed that all injured individuals received immediate medical attention from the agency’s pre-hospital care team in collaboration with LASAMBUS and were subsequently transferred to Lagos State University Teaching Hospital for further treatment.
The quick response of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, along with the agency’s Lagos Response Team (LRT), played a crucial role in containing the fire and preventing it from spreading to adjacent areas. The scene was cordoned off to ensure safety and facilitate a swift return to normalcy.
In a statement, the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service reported that the gas truck was discharging its contents into an above-ground storage tank at the time of the ignition. The fire engulfed eight vehicles, including the tanker itself, and affected parts of the uppermost floor of a nearby building. The exact number of victims was still being assessed, with all injured individuals transported to the hospital for treatment.
This incident is reminiscent of a similar explosion that occurred in late April, which injured nine people, including a pregnant woman, in the Ajegunle-Apapa area of Lagos State. That explosion was reportedly caused by a gas leak igniting a high-tension cable in an area known for gas cylinder trading.
In light of these events, it is crucial for safety measures regarding gas handling and storage to be reinforced to prevent future occurrences. The investigation into the latest incident is ongoing, with authorities committed to ensuring the safety of the community and holding accountable any parties responsible for negligence.
Dayo Oyewo and Uthman Salami, both seasoned journalists, covered this incident, bringing attention to the ongoing issues of safety and emergency response in urban environments. Their insight into the community’s response and the effectiveness of emergency services highlights the importance of preparedness in mitigating the impact of such accidents.
