Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
Lagos, Nigeria — A deadly fire outbreak at a residential building in the Oyingbo area of Lagos Mainland has claimed the life of a 103‑year‑old woman and razed several apartments and commercial properties, Lagos State emergency authorities have confirmed. The inferno erupted on Friday at No. 8, Bola Street, off Kadara Street, leaving neighbours and shop owners counting their losses and prompting a renewed call for heightened fire safety awareness across the state.
The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) said distress calls reporting the blaze were received at about 11:43 a.m. via the toll‑free emergency lines before the agency activated its emergency response plan from the Onipanu base. Responders — including the LASEMA Response Team, the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, the Nigeria Police Force and the Lagos Neighbourhood Safety Corps — arrived on the scene by 12:13 p.m. and found the building already engulfed in flames.
According to LASEMA’s Permanent Secretary, Dr. Olufemi Oke‑Osanyintolu, the fire reportedly began in one of the rooms before spreading rapidly to other parts of the structure. Despite immediate efforts to contain the blaze, the centenarian — whose name has not been disclosed — was unable to escape and was pronounced dead at the scene. Her remains were later recovered by emergency teams and handed over to her family.
The fire inflicted substantial damage on the property, affecting eight room‑and‑parlour apartments, one self‑contained mini‑flat and six nearby shops, along with numerous household items and business goods, with preliminary assessments placing the losses in the millions of naira. Responders conducted a risk assessment and cordoned off the area to prevent the fire from spreading to adjacent buildings before fully extinguishing the blaze.
Eyewitnesses described scenes of chaos as flames enveloped the building, with residents and traders attempting to salvage belongings in the tense moments before fire crews arrived. Despite their swift action, the size and intensity of the blaze outpaced early efforts, underscoring the challenges emergency responders often face in densely populated urban neighbourhoods.
Emergency management officials say the exact cause of the blaze remains under investigation, though preliminary reports suggest the fire began in an interior room. Dr. Oke‑Osanyintolu has called on Lagos residents to adhere more strictly to fire safety regulations, urging property owners, tenants and business operators to take proactive preventive measures and to promptly report any emergencies through dedicated emergency lines.
The tragic incident adds to a series of fire outbreaks in Lagos State, where crowded residential districts and mixed‑use buildings often compound the risk of rapid fire spread and increase potential casualties. Fire safety advocates have long urged strengthened building codes, improved electrical safety standards and wider public education on risk reduction, noting that such measures are critical in preventing loss of life and property in emergencies.
As families mourn the loss of the elderly woman and affected residents begin recovery efforts, authorities have pledged continued support for preliminary investigations and reinforced emergency preparedness across the state’s high‑risk zones.
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