Gas Explosion Razes Shops In Orile, Lagos

A gas explosion rocked the Orile-Iganmu area of Lagos on Sunday, destroying several shops and causing panic among traders and residents.

The incident occurred at Orisunmibare Market, off Baale Street, when a gas leak from a retail outlet triggered a fire that spread rapidly through the area.

The explosion, which happened around 2:13 p.m., sent thick smoke into the air as traders rushed to salvage their goods. Witnesses said the blast came from a gas shop that stored multiple cylinders of various sizes. Several nearby shops using gas for cooking were also engulfed by the flames before firefighters arrived.

Residents fled as the fire threatened nearby structures, including three filling stations in the area. Goods worth millions of naira were destroyed before firefighters managed to bring the situation under control. Although no lives were lost, one person suffered a minor hand injury during the chaos.

The Director of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Margaret Adeseye, confirmed that her team responded swiftly to the emergency. She said firefighters prevented the situation from escalating into a larger disaster and ensured that the fire was contained before it could spread to the nearby fuel stations.

In a separate incident the same day, firefighters tackled a petrol spill on the Apapa-Oshodi Expressway after a 33,000-litre tanker collided with several stationary vehicles near the Berger Car Depot. The tanker, bearing registration number AAB-942YC, reportedly hit a Mercedes-Benz Jeep and seven vehicles parked for sale, causing fuel to spill across the road.

Fire crews from Ajegunle and Ijegun-Egba were deployed to the scene and successfully prevented the spill from igniting. The remaining fuel was safely transferred to another tanker while recovery of the damaged vehicles continued.

The Fire Service also carried out a rescue operation on Saturday after a man fell into an underground drainage along Ikorodu Road near Idiroko Bus Stop. The 55-year-old victim was rescued alive after a confined-space operation by personnel from the Ilupeju Fire Station and handed over to the police for further care.

Adeseye said the agency had managed multiple emergencies across the state within 48 hours but ensured that all were resolved without any loss of life. She reaffirmed the Fire Service’s commitment to quick response and protection of lives and property across Lagos.