A refrigerator explosion occurred yesterday inside a beer parlour that is yet to open along L and K road in Oworonsoki area of Lagos. The explosion occurred around 2.00 pm leaving five people injured including a young girl.
The actual source of the explosion has not been officially confirmed as at the time of this report. It was however learnt that the explosion affected a building next to the beer parlour, but the building is said to pose no danger to the people. Officials of fire service and policemen were still trying to find out the cause of the explosion as the shop was locked at the time of the incident.
An official of the National Emergency management Agency had to appeal to the people to leave the area to allow his men to do their job. Those injured were residents of the building and a motorcyclist who was passing at the time of the incident. Affected was a five-month old baby girl, her mother, Mrs Joy Angolo, their relation, Mr Monsuru Angolo, a motorcyclist Kamoru Bashir and one other resident, whose name could not be ascertained.
As soon as the incident occurred, the area was thrown into confusion with the residents thinking the dreaded Islamic sect, Boko Haram had struck and many of them reportedly took to their heels but the development was later confirmed to be that domestic explosion possibly from a refrigerator.
Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Fatai Owoseni, said there was no explosion rather it was a gas cylinder that busted. According to him; “We should not create fear in the minds of people. It was a gas cylinder that busted resulting in a fire incident. The small fire did not even consume the whole house where it happened. ‘’The place is densely populated so, a huge crowd rushed out when they saw smoke from the fire. There is heavy presence of policemen there now and they are making frantic efforts to control the crowd.’’
A resident of Oworonsoki said more casualties would have been recorded should the incident have occurred on a week day. The Director Lagos State Fire Service Razak Fadipe and South-West Information Officer, Ibrahim Farinloye confirmed the development saying only five persons were injured during the incident.
