Panic gripped Lagos Island on Tuesday after two separate fire outbreaks gutted the Afriland Tower and the Central Plaza on Broad Street, leaving at least four people hospitalised and several others injured.
The first incident occurred at Afriland Tower, a six-storey building housing a branch of UBA and other companies. Witnesses said the blaze started in the inverter room located in the basement before spreading across multiple floors, trapping occupants inside.
Videos shared online showed residents and passersby rescuing victims with ladders, while some trapped individuals attempted to jump from upper floors.
Confirming the incident, Ogabi Olajide, Deputy Controller of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service (LSFRS), said the emergency call was received at 1:38 p.m. and fire crews from Ebute Elefun and Sari Iganmu responded swiftly.
“The fire originated in the inverter room located in the basement of the building, while smoke spread across multiple floors and engulfed the structure,” he explained.
Emergency responders evacuated 11 people, including nine casualties, five of whom were resuscitated. Four others remain in critical condition.
Later in the evening, another fire broke out at the nearby Central Plaza around 7:40 p.m., causing part of the building to collapse while firefighters battled to contain the flames.
Eyewitnesses said traders and shop owners had been evacuated before the collapse, while others rushed to salvage their goods and equipment.
One witness told PUNCH Metro:
“The traders were evacuated before the building collapsed. I don’t think anyone was trapped under the debris.”
Confirming the second incident, LSFRS spokesperson Shakiru Amodu said rescue operations were ongoing and details would be released after the fire was fully contained.
As of press time, the exact causes of the two fire incidents remain unknown.
These incidents come barely two weeks after a fire gutted a filling station in Ikorodu, raising fresh concerns over fire safety in densely populated Lagos.
