The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has blamed a motorist for the devastating fire that ravaged a Mobil Filling Station in Lagos on Thursday.
NEMA, in a post on its X (Twitter) handle said the station was selling fuel and gas to customers when a gas hose used for refueling disengaged, causing a gas leak.
The agency said the development prompted the attendants to immediately stopped the sales and instructed customers not to start their car engines, but one of them defied the safety directive which triggered the fire.
The post reads : “Gas Fire Incident at Mobil Filling Station Near Lagos Airport Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos, on Thursday, 8th August 2024
” The NEMA Lagos Territorial Office (LTO) responded to a distress call around 11 am today, August 8th, 2024, regarding a gas fire incident at the Mobil Filling Station
beside Lagos Airport Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos.
” Upon arriving at the scene, further investigation revealed that there was no ongoing discharge or transloading of gas. The station was selling fuel and gas to customers when a gas hose used for refueling disengaged, causing a gas leak.
” The attendants immediately stopped the sale of gas and fuel and instructed customers not to start their car engines. Unfortunately, a customer started their (sic) engine, igniting the fire, which quickly spread to vehicles passing by the filling station.
“The incident resulted in eight vehicles and one gas truck being burnt. Additionally, a two-story building adjacent to the Mobil filling station was partially burned. One male victim suffered 70% burns, and one female victim sustained 90% burns; both are receiving medical care at LASUTH. Four Mobil staff members with minor injuries were treated at the scene.
The NEMA LTO officials cordoned off the incident scene, and relevant stakeholders were present to bring the fire under control.”
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