Dr Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, the Director-General, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), has said that 18 bodies have been recovered while 25 casualties are being treated for injuries sustained in the Abule Ado pipeline explosion.
Oke-Osanyintolu made this known in Lagos on Sunday.
According to him, “we sympathise with the families of those that died, wish the injured ones quick recovery and we also appeal for calm”.
Oke-Osanyintolu urged residents of Abule-Ado to shun fake news concerning the explosion.
“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.
“The primary cause of the explosion is yet unknown.
“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.
“The causes are yet to be determined, while security agents are investigating the cause of the explosion,” Oke-Osanyintolu said.
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.
A total of 55 victims of Sunday’s explosion were treated at Nigerian Navy Reference Hospital, Ojo, Western Naval Command (WNC) Spokesman, Thomas Otuji, has said.
He said that Navy Fire Service Unit trucks from NNS WEY, Naval Ordnance Depot, Naval Air Base, were also deployed to assist in fighting the fire.
He said that the explosion that occurred at Abule-Ado about 9:30 a. m. also caused substantial damage to the ceilings in the hospital.
“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.
