No fewer than 18 shops have been razed in a gas explosion in the Iju Ishaga area of Lagos State.

It was gathered that the gas explosion occurred at about 10 p.m. on Tuesday, February 13, 2024.

The incident was confirmed via a statement issued by the Director of Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Margaret Adeseye, on Tuesday night.

Adeseye said: “The fire which was reported at 22:04hrs Tuesday as a result of a gas tanker that accidentally caught fire and accompanied with explosion has been confined to the tanker and adjoining row of shops it spread to as concerted efforts are ongoing to forestall further spread to protect the environment and property including the nearby Kerosene Petroleum Filling Station.

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“The agency is assuring the public of their safety and admonishing them to be as distance as possible from the scene while naked flames should be avoided for now within the vicinity.”

The director, in an update on the explosion in the early hours of Wednesday, attributed the cause of the incident to the off-loading of gas cylinders from a stationed mini truck to a gas shop in the area.

She added: “The situation is now calm as the fire is under control and further explosion altered as dampen down ongoing to mob up the scene of the incident.

“The cause of the emergency is attributed to the off-loading of six numbers of 75-50(kg) gas cylinders sizes from a stationed mini truck to a gas shop that accidentally resulted to explosions from one of the compromised head cap of a cylinder accompanied by fire.

“The ensuing fire triggered to the other side of the street with the aid of one of the gas cylinders that travelled over affecting 18 shops in all and contents therein with the mini truck.

“There is no traces of casualty nor injury as the operations moved towards conclusion.”

The Star