A massive fire on Tuesday evening engulfed a commercial plaza at Tinubu Square in the CMS area of Lagos Island, sending traders and passersby into panic.
A PREMIUM TIMES reporter saw thick black smoke billowing from the building as flames spread rapidly across sections of the structure.
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Eyewitnesses told PREMIUM TIMES that the fire broke out suddenly, forcing shop owners and occupants to scamper for safety, while valuables worth millions of naira were trapped inside the complex.
The cause of the fire was yet to be ascertained at the time of filing this report.
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This newspaper observed the arrival of a Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service vehicle at 8:33 p.m., by which time the building was already overtaken by flames.
In a statement late Tuesday, Deputy Controller General of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Ogabi Olajide, said the incident was reported at 7:23 p.m., prompting immediate dispatch of fire crews from the Ebute Elefun and Oniru fire stations.
He confirmed that the fire started on the fourth floor of the plaza but said the cause was yet to be determined.
“The cause of the fire is yet to be determined,” he stated.
Earlier on Tuesday, another fire outbreak was reported at Afriland Tower on Broad Street, Lagos Island. That incident, which began in the inverter room in the building’s basement, forced workers to evacuate.
Nine victims were rescued, five of whom were successfully resuscitated, according to the fire service.
“Evacuation of occupants is in progress, while firefighting operations have been concluded dousing the earlier panic before the arrival of the first responders,” Mr Olajide added in a separate statement.
The Broad Street fire was contained by late afternoon, while firefighting and rescue efforts continued into the night at Tinubu Square.
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