Seven people have been hospitalised after sustaining varying degrees of burns in a fire outbreak at the 22-storey Great Nigeria Insurance House on Martins Street, Lagos Island.
The fire, which broke out at about 5 p.m. on Christmas Eve, reportedly started from the fourth floor of the high-rise building before spreading to other floors and adjoining structures.
Several nearby buildings were affected by the inferno, including the seven-storey Radio Nigeria building, the popular Oluwole Plaza, a mosque, and other surrounding structures.
The spokesperson for the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Nosa Okunbor, confirmed the incident in an update issued on Christmas Day.
In an earlier public alert, LASEMA had urged residents and traders within the area to evacuate immediately as the fire continued to spread.
Providing a situation update on Thursday, Okunbor disclosed that although the fire had been largely contained, seven people sustained burn injuries and were taken to hospitals for further treatment.
He added that five other individuals suffered smoke inhalation and were treated promptly at the scene.
“The adjoining buildings in proximity to the high-rise have largely been salvaged, and coordinated efforts continue to ensure the inferno is completely extinguished,” he said.
“Seven adult males suffered varying degrees of burn injuries as a result of the inferno and were attended to by the agency’s paramedics before being taken to nearby hospitals for further medical attention.
“The seven-storey Radio Nigeria building opposite the Great Nigeria Insurance House has been safely extinguished by emergency responders, and dampening-down operations are ongoing.”
Okunbor explained that the ongoing dampening-down exercise is aimed at preventing a possible re-ignition of the fire.