At least 15 people were injured on Sunday afternoon following a gas explosion in Ijora Badia, located in the Apapa area of Lagos State.
According to a statement by Margaret Adeseye, Director of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, the explosion occurred at around 4:10 p.m. at a small shop that housed a 25kg gas cylinder along with five others.
The blast took place within a bungalow that contained 15 self-contained rooms and seven additional shops, causing significant damage and panic in the area.
Emergency responders quickly arrived at the scene to contain the situation and provide medical assistance to the victims, all of whom sustained varying degrees of injuries.
Adeseye explained that the explosion was caused by a gas leak due to mishandling of the cylinders. She said the leak was ignited by a nearby flame, leading to the sudden explosion.
“It was a case of improper handling of gas products, which unfortunately caused gas to escape and come into contact with a flame, triggering the explosion,” Adeseye stated.
Fortunately, the fire was swiftly brought under control, and the remains of the gas cylinders were safely removed from the site.
Adeseye confirmed that the danger was fully contained, and normalcy had been restored to the area.
While no lives were lost, 15 individuals were injured, suffering from burns. None of the injuries were life-threatening. Several victims received first aid at the scene, while others were transported to nearby hospitals for further treatment.
The fire was extinguished through the combined efforts of firefighters from the Sari Iganmu Fire Station, officials from LASEMA, the Lagos Neighbourhood Safety Corps, and LASAMBUS, the state’s emergency medical service.
This incident follows a similar gas explosion on the Otedola Bridge along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway in March 2025, which tragically claimed the lives of five people.