A fire outbreak has razed several shanties at Akanimodo Market, Mile 12, Lagos, following a gas explosion in one of the structures.
The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) said the explosion ignited combustible materials within the affected shanty, causing the fire to spread to adjoining structures.
The agency’s Permanent Secretary, Dr Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday, confirming that no lives were lost and no injuries were recorded.
He said the affected structures were largely occupied by plastic recycliplastic recycling operators and served as residences.
According to him, most of the structures were wooden planks and other combustible materials, which contributed to the rapid spread of the fire.
Oke-Osanyintolu helped firefighters by quickly working to contain the fire before the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service arrived.
He added that firefighters initially struggled to access the scene because of congestion and limited access, but later joined the operation and successfully extinguished the fire.
The LASEMA boss said the agency’s response team coordinated the emergency operation, supervised the firefighting and dampening-down exercises, and worked with security personnel to control crowds and restrict unauthorised access to the affected area.
He said the agency conducted a final safety assessment of the affected shanties and surrounding structures to identify residual heat and other hazards that could cause another outbreak.
The agency also sensitised occupants on the proper handling and storage of cooking gas cylinders and other cooking materials.
In a related development, LASEMA said it cleared two broken-down trucks at Idimu (inward Egbeda) and Odo-Ayandelu (inward Shagamu Road), Agbowa.
It said a truck with an unknown registration number broke down at Idimu at about 12:32am due to a steering fault, blocking both inward and outward movement along Egbeda.
The agency said its response team, working with the police, fixed the fault and moved the truck off the carriageway, allowing normal traffic to resume.
At Agbowa, another truck carrying bags of cement, registration number OED-138XB, broke down after a flat tyre.
According to the statement, the agency’s response team, working with the Lagos Neighbourhood Safety Corps, replaced the damaged tyre, allowing the truck to continue its journey.
No casualties were recorded in either incident.
LASEMA urged traders and residents to observe fire safety regulations, ensure proper handling and storage of cooking gas cylinders and avoid unsafe cooking practices in congested structures.