Many shops destroyed as gas explosion rocks Lagos market

By OLA MUDOPE, Lagos –

No fewer than 7 shops have been destroyed  on Saturday afternoon when a gas explosion rocked a mini-market in the Ikotun area of Lagos State.

The fire erupted in a market at 2nd Junction, Governor’s Road, Council Bus Stop in Ikotun.

The Director, Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Margaret Adeseye, confirmed the incident in a statement on Saturday.

She said : “The incident was triggered by a gas cylinder leakage and subsequent explosion within one of the shops.

“The explosion “rapidly spreading to neighboring shops numbering seven, necessitating an immediate emergency response”.

She said multiple agencies responded to the emergency, and engaged in managing the situation.

“Preliminary investigations point to negligence during the refilling of a gas cylinder as the probable cause of the incident.

“Fortunately, there are no reported casualties,” she said.