The Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service has announced that a total of nine victims were rescued from a fire incident at Afriland Tower on Broad Street, Lagos Island.
“A total of nine victims have been rescued from the Fire Incident at. Five individuals have been successfully resuscitated,” the Lagos Fire and Rescue Service posted on its official X handle.
“Several others escaped unhurt while efforts are currently ongoing to resuscitate remaining four individuals.”
SaharaReporters earlier reported that a fire outbreak on Tuesday afternoon engulfed parts of Afriland Tower, a six-storey building on Broad Street, Lagos Island, prompting a swift response from emergency services.
The Afriland Tower houses one of the branches of the United Bank for Africa, PLC (UBA).
According to the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, the incident was reported at about 1:38 p.m. Crews from the Ebute Elefun and Sari Iganmu fire stations were immediately deployed to the scene.
In a statement signed by Ogabi Olajide, Deputy Controller General of the agency, the fire was traced to the inverter room in the building’s basement, with thick smoke spreading rapidly across several floors.
“Evacuation of occupants is in progress, while firefighting operations have been concluded, dousing the earlier panic before the arrival of the first responders,” the earlier statement read.
In another development, a fire outbreak was also reported at Mandilas Market, Lagos.
The incident, which occurred very close to Broad Street, broke out after most traders had left for home and closed their stalls for the day.
Videos seen by this newspaper show traders trying to salvage their goods amid the raging fire.
There have been no official comments on the fire outbreak at the market or on whether there were casualties as of the time of filing this report.
