Lagos in Flames Again: 15 Injured as Gas Explosion Rocks Residential Bungalow

 

LAGOS — Panic swept through Ijora Badia in the Apapa Iganmu Local Council Development Area of Lagos State on Sunday afternoon when a devastating gas explosion tore through a compact residential-commercial complex, injuring no fewer than 15 individuals.

The harrowing incident occurred at approximately 4:10 p.m., according to a statement issued by the Director of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Margaret Adeseye. The fire reportedly began in a small shop operating within a bungalow structure that also housed multiple living quarters and commercial outlets.

“The explosion stemmed from a 25-kilogram gas cylinder situated in a mini shop that stored five similar cylinders,” Adeseye said. “Due to improper handling, gas leaked and came into contact with an open flame, sparking the explosion and a subsequent blaze.”

The shop, part of a low-rise bungalow containing 15 self-contained rooms and seven other shops, was reduced to rubble as flames spread quickly, engulfing parts of the structure before emergency responders arrived. Eyewitnesses described scenes of confusion and chaos as residents ran for safety and attempted to douse the flames with buckets of water before professional help arrived.

Firefighters from the Sari Iganmu Fire Station, working in conjunction with the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Lagos Neighbourhood Safety Corps, and LASAMBUS—the state’s emergency medical response unit—arrived on scene swiftly to contain the inferno.

“We were able to bring the fire under control in a coordinated effort. The remains of the cylinders were safely evacuated, and the danger completely averted,” Adeseye confirmed, adding that normalcy has since returned to the area.

Despite the intensity of the explosion and the fire that followed, no fatalities were recorded. However, 15 people sustained varying degrees of burn injuries. Several victims were treated on-site by LASAMBUS officials, while others were transported to nearby hospitals for comprehensive care. Fortunately, none of the injuries were deemed life-threatening, according to emergency responders.

The incident has reignited concerns over safety practices in the handling and storage of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) in Lagos, a city that has seen its share of tragic gas-related incidents in recent months. In a particularly grim reminder, Adeseye referenced a separate explosion in March 2025 on Otedola Bridge along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, which claimed five lives.

“This explosion once again highlights the danger posed by improper handling of gas products in densely populated areas,” Adeseye warned. “We urge residents and business owners to adhere strictly to safety regulations, especially when dealing with flammable substances.”

As authorities begin investigating the circumstances leading up to the explosion, residents of Ijora Badia are left to rebuild and reflect on what could have been a far more catastrophic event. Meanwhile, the Lagos State Government is expected to intensify its safety enforcement in residential and commercial zones where gas is stored or sold.

Though the flames have been extinguished, the scars—both physical and emotional—will remain with the victims and the community as they recover from Sunday’s terrifying ordeal.