Scores injured as fire guts Mobil filling station in Lagos

A devastating fire broke out at a Mobil filling station on Obafemi Awolowo Road in Ikeja, the Lagos State capital, on Thursday morning, leaving several vehicles destroyed and numerous people injured.

The incident occurred around 11 a.m. during a busy period when motorists were refueling their vehicles with Petroleum Motor Spirit (PMS), commonly known as petrol.

Witnesses reported hearing a loud explosion at the station, which quickly escalated into a massive fire. The blaze engulfed a gas tanker, several cars, and at least one bus that were at the station at the time.

Although an official count of those injured remains undisclosed, multiple people were reported to have sustained injuries during the incident. Fortunately, no fatalities were confirmed as of the time of filing this report.

Emergency responders from the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) swiftly arrived at the scene to conduct rescue operations and contain the fire. Security agents were also deployed to maintain order and prevent any further escalation.

The cause of the explosion and subsequent fire is still under investigation, but the incident has raised concerns about safety measures at fuel stations, particularly in densely populated areas like Ikeja. Authorities are expected to conduct a thorough investigation to determine the cause of the fire and to implement measures to prevent such incidents in the future.

This incident serves as a grim reminder of the potential hazards associated with fuel handling and the importance of stringent safety protocols at filling stations across the country.