CITIZENS COMPASS– At least, four high rise buildings at Dosumu Market in Lagos Island, Lagos State collapsed on Tuesday, April 9, 2024, following fire outbreak which affected 14 buildings off Idumagbo Avenue.
Traders wept uncontrollably as emergency responders battled the fire which started at about 12.34p.m in one of the buildings before it escalated and spread to other building.
Goods worth Billions of Naira were destroyed as many of the traders were unable to salvage their wages.
The incident occurred barely 24 hours after the hair producs section of the Apongbon Market recorded an outbreak of fire.
The Coordinator, Lagos State Territorial District of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Ibrahim Farinloye, confirmed the incident.
He said no life was lost as more fire services were mobilised to the scene.
On the cause of the fire, he said, “The cause was rumored to have started from a printing house owner simply called Uche who was trying to refuel his running generator which went out of control and spread to other generators in the penthouse.
From there, explosions caused shrapnel of fire flying around across the road to adjoining and opposite the building.”
He said the rumour could not be established, “Though, the rumoure was widely spread but no one could confirm and no other rumour is spreading aside from that,”
The NEMA Coordinator said at the last count, four of the affected buildings collapsed during the outbrea. “Another building just collapsed now making 4 buildings now,”
At about 4.55p.m, he said, “The fire has been totally contained remaining the small fires under the collapsed buildings that are expected to burn out.
Out of the 14, four collapsed under the intensity of the fire.”
In her updates, the Director, Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Margaret Adeseye, said the storage of fuel products in the penthouse of the building where the fire started, coupled with chemical materials stored in the building, escalated the fire.
“The Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service has successfully contained a major fire incident affecting 14 buildings, with two structures fully collapsed and two partially collapsed. “The cause was traced to refuelling a generator among others, with fuel storage in kegs at the penthouse of a three-building complex housing a printing shop with chemical contents.”
