A six-storey building, Afriland Tower, on Broad Street, Marina, Lagos Island, went up in flames on Tuesday.
The inferno was said to have started from the inverter room located in the basement of the building before it spread to other floors.
Videos showed flames emitting from the six-storey building with employees of firms in the tower seen climbing out of the window on a ladder to escape the inferno.
Confirming the fire outbreak, the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, in a statement by Deputy Controller General, Ogabi Olajide, said that efforts were ongoing to contain the fire.
Mr Olajide said, “A fire outbreak is currently being battled at a six-storey building on Afriland Tower, Broad Street, Lagos Island.
The call was received at 13:38 hours, and fire crews from Ebute Elefun Fire Station and Sari Iganmu Fire Station responded. Evacuation of occupants is in progress, while firefighting operations have doused the earlier panic prior to the arrival of first responders.’’
The cause of the inferno had yet to be ascertained as of the time this report was filed.
Keeploss reports that Afriland Towers is owned by Heirs Holdings, an African investment company founded by Tony O. Elumelu. The company is known for developing high-quality commercial and residential properties, and Afriland Towers is an example of their high-quality commercial property developments.
The Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service said it has rescued nine casualties from the fire at the six-storey Afriland Tower building.
The agency’s deputy controller-general, Ogabi Olajide, made this known in a statement on Tuesday in Lagos.
He stated that nine victims had been rescued in total, of which five were successfully resuscitated.
“A total of nine victims have been rescued, with five individuals successfully resuscitated.
“Several others escaped unhurt, while efforts are currently ongoing to resuscitate the remaining four individuals,” he said.
According to him, the incident was reported at exactly 1:38 p.m., and fire crews closest to the scene were immediately deployed there.
“After a call was received, fire crews from Ebute Elefun Fire Station and Sari Iganmu Fire Station responded.
“The fire originated in the inverter room located in the basement of the building, while smoke has spread across multiple floors and engulfed the structure,” Mr Olajide said.
