By Ifeoma Ikem
Thirteen persons lost their lives on the tragedy that strucked at the early hours of Thurday gas explosion at LPG gas plant station,,along populated Candos Road, Baruwa, Ipaja-Ayobo, Old Alimosho Local Government Area,Lagos state
The incident happened barely two weeks after a similar explosion occured at Iju-Ishaga area of Lagos living about 40 persons injured and properties worth million of naira destroyed.
However, there was conflicted figures of causalities as government officials claimed that eight persons died, but eyewitness claimed they were about 13 charred bodies recovered from the scene.
The causalities included women and children,one of the women was identified as Mrs. Adebowale, 55 years old who died in infront of her late husband building.
She died while trying to removed the money she borrowed as loan from one of the microfinance banks.
Among the survivors were a mother and two children who were taken to Gbagada General Hospital Burns Unit for medical attention.
Sahara weekly gathered that an LPG tanker was in the process of discharging it’s content at the Best Roof Gas Plant Station but unfortunately, the station’s generating set was running and in the process sparked, exploded and threw the discharging tanker across the road.
The Director-General, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency LASEMA, Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, who raced to the scene after distress call, attributed the incident to carelessness on the part of the operators.
Giving the post disaster assessment of the explosion, said a total number of eight bodies were recovered at the scene while 15 victims suffered major burns and have been transferred to Gbagada General Hospital Burns Unit.
Similarly, he said 25 buildings were damaged during the explosion and out of which 10 were severely affected.
Also, 16 shops, a private school building and a hotel were razed while a Pentecostal Church, Folem was mildly affected..
He urged residents to report unsavoury and dangerous practices within their neighbourhoods to relevant agencies.
One of the victims that survivor the incident, Mr. John Ogungbile, 75 years old, retired British from Airways staff, recounted his ordeal said, “We were woken up by a loud bang on our door at about 5am, with a scream, come out fire everywhere, i ran outside with my nightwear on including my children five of them.
We were confused because on how to save my ailing wife who is 72years old on that situation due to her health challenges. But with intervention God, my daughter managed to back her and escaped to a safe location.
Though my house was partly affected by the fire.,thugs looted my tenant who is having a frozen shop also my mobile phones were also stolen ,i praise God who spared our lives and that of my tenants beacuse when there is live there is hope, he said.
Another survivor Mrs. Rukayat Adeyemi and her family turned all the glory to almighty who saved them from the incident . She prayed for those that sustain injuries for quick recovery