A fire outbreak at Fat Noble Filling Station, an independent marketing oil firm located along Old Road, opposite Torikoh, Badagry, Lagos, resulted in injuries to at least four individuals in the early hours of Wednesday.
The incident reportedly occurred around 1:00 a.m. as attendants were dispensing petrol inside jerry cans and sacks at the back of the station.
According to Eyewitnesses the explosion took place during the process of selling fuel, which was allegedly intended for smuggling out of the country.
The injured individuals were promptly rushed to General Hospital in Badagry before the arrival of firefighters.
“They were selling fuel, which was to be smuggled out of the country immediately when there was a sudden explosion. The fire destroyed some part of the station before the arrival of the men of the Lagos Fire Service. Those who suffered fatal injuries were taken to the hospital, while those with minor injuries were treated within,” a source explained.
The Station Head of Badagry Fire Service, Isaac Dossa, stated that they received an emergency call at 1:15 a.m. and swiftly proceeded to the scene. “We got to the scene of the fire incident around 1:25 a.m., and the fire was put out around 3:55 a.m. the same day. They took most of the victims of the fire incident to the general hospital before our arrival,” said Dossa.
The Medical Director of the hospital, Dr. Olatunde Bakare, confirmed that the victims were brought in around 1:30 a.m.
He assured that the medical staff attended to them promptly, and they are currently receiving treatment at the emergency unit of the hospital.
The cause of the fire and the extent of damage to the filling station are yet to be officially disclosed.
NAN
