By Uche Mbah
An explosion has rocked the Baruwa area of Ipaja, Lagos. Thursday, sending people scampering for safety, and many trapped in their houses, engulfed by the raging inferno triggered by the explosion.
The Lagos State Environmental management agency, LASEMA, is on ground to monitor, and arrest the situation.
According to an eye witness account, the explosion happened around 6.00am at a gas facility in the area. The number of casualties is yet to be ascertained, but many houses have been destroyed, and properties worth millions of Naira lost.
Baruwa lies along the Ipaja-Ayobo road, and is close to Gowon, Shagari, and Jakande Estates at Ipaja new town.
LASEMA officials on ground claim that, so far, about eight people were killed and about thirty houses burnt, including a primary school and some lockup shops.
But eye witness accounts claim twelve fatalities. Many of the injured, however, are being evacuated to hospitals.
Fire fighters are working to put off the fire.
Baruwa has been having problems with pipeline leaks which has made water from their borehole undrinkable because it lies along gas pipeline route.
More details, later…
