Lagos Explosion: Death Toll Rises to 20, as Search for Victims Continues

Matilda Omonaiye/

The death toll in Sunday’s Abule-Ado explosion in Lagos has risen to 20, as rescuers continued to search for more victims.

NewsmakersNG learnt from eyewitnesses that three more corpses were recovered from the rubble of one of the buildings yesterday.

It was gathered that the deceased were two cooks in the Catholic Church-run Bethlehem Girls College, one of whom was identified simply as Irene, and a security guard.

The Principal of the school, Rev. Sr. Henrietta Alokha, was killed while rescuing some students who were trapped when the building, where a Mass was being celebrated, collapsed.

Not less than 50 pupils of the college were reportedly injured in the incident.

The Director General, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Femi Oke-Osanyintolu, while speaking at the scene, confirmed that the death toll had risen to 20.

He said, “Fifty-seven persons were rescued and eight discharged from hospital. One is still at the Intensive Care Unit of the Naval Hospital. Three bodies were recovered this morning, bringing the number of casualties to 20.”

Also, the Chairman of the Red Cross, Lagos branch, Adebola Kolawole, said a girl, identified as Favour, was rescued from under the rubble unscathed.

She said, “We rescued Favour under the rubble with no injury; she was naked and people told us that her mother and brother had been taken to hospital. Her mother is recuperating in hospital.”

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation had explained that the explosion was caused by a truck, which hit a stack of gas cylinders.

The impact of the explosion destroyed over 50 houses and countless vehicles parked in the area.

Reports say others who died in the explosion included a newly-wed couple, Emmanuel and Chisom Udoakonobi, who were said to have been killed after the pillar of their building fell on their car. Chisom was three months’ pregnant.

Also killed were the Chairman of the Abule-Ado Community Development Association, Obi Chikezie, his wife and their son.

LASEMA had earlier confirmed the death of a couple and their two sons, who were on their way to church when the explosion occurred.

0