- As Naval Command Hospital Disagrees on Figures, Claims 55 Casualties Currently Receiving Care
No fewer than 17 people were said to have died with 25 injured as gas pipeline explosion rattled Abule Ado area of Lagos on Sunday, the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) said.
Dr Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, LASEMA Director General disclosed the figures while expressing condolences to the families of those who died in the devastating incident.
“We the LASEMA Response Team arrived at the incident scene and it was discovered that a raging fire had displaced several residents who fled their abodes for fear of being caught up in the inferno.
“There are a number of secondary explosions which have caused significant damage to multiple buildings including the levelling of a Church to the ground and the destruction of St. Margaret’s Girls Hostel.
He said that recovery and rescue activities were carried out by the Ministry of Special Duties, LASEMA, Lagos State Fire Service crew, Federal Fire Service Department, Safety Commission, Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) and other first responders.
He said that operation was still in progress, saying that updates would continue through the course of operation, while investigations remain on going.
Meanwhile, the injury casualty figures from 25 declared by LASEMA was at variance with the figure given by Nigerian Navy Reference Hospital, Ojo, Western Naval Command (WNC)
The Command Spokesman, Thomas Otuji, said 55 casualties are currently undergoing treatment at the Command’s facility.
“Fifty-five persons were attended to, made up of 36 school children and 19 adults”
“One of the adults had about 35 per cent mixed degree burns with inhalation injuries and pulmonary edema.
“He has been admitted into the Intensive Care Unit and connected to a ventilator, seven other adults and two children are on admission in the wards.
“Two adults had traumatic brain injury and were referred to LUTH for neurosurgical intervention. The remaining 43 have been treated and discharged.
“Three people were brought in dead comprising of two females and a male,” the Navy Spokesman said.
