The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), has given more insight into what led to Thursday’s gas explosion in front of the Ogun State Property Investment Company (OPIC) Plaza in Ikeja.
It was reported that three persons were killed while 13 others suffered varying degrees of injuries after a Liquefied Petroleum Gas ( LPG) tanker exploded in front of the plaza.
No fewer than 24 cars were also destroyed, while a part of the building was severely damaged in the incident which occurred at about 10.32 p.m on Mobolaji Bank Anthony Way, Ikeja.
Following the development, LASEMA’s Director-General, Dr Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, while giving an update into what led to the incident on Saturday told newsmen that the explosion was ignited by a spark from the kitchen of the Chinese restaurant in which the manager and two of his colleagues were killed on the spot.
He said the restaurant is located inside the Ogun State Property Investment Corporation (OPIC) Plaza where other offices were also burnt.
“Close investigation revealed that the leaking cooking gas from the truck was ignited by the exposed fire from the kitchen of the new Chinese restaurant inside OPIC Plaza.
“As a result of wind action, the whole area of OPIC structure was engulfed with fire.
“The fire trailed the cooking gas, resulting in the explosion of the gas tanker outside the compound,” he said.
Oke-Osanyintolu added that the fire from the explosion resulted in severe damage to the OPIC Plaza building.
According to him, the fire injured 13 people who were rushed to the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) and Gbagada General Hospital for treatment.
“Three adult males were further discovered dead at the scene while two more victims died while undergoing medical attention at LASUTH, making it a total of five fatalities recorded from the incident,” he added.
He also noted that the OPIC Plaza had been sealed off as a disaster zone and had been prepared for further investigation.
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