Three persons have been left dead in the pipeline explosion which happened at the Ile-Epo area of Abule Egba, in Lagos.
About 11 trucks and seven houses razed in the inferno which started at 7:45 pm on Sunday with thick smokes and balls of fire bellowing the atmosphere.
Residents fled their homes to take shelter in safer places while thousands of onlookers were seen close to the scenes taking pictures.
Several fire trucks raced to the area, but they were finding it difficult to contain the rampaging fire at the time of filing this report around 12:15 am on Monday.
Director-General, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, LASEMA, Dr. Femi Oke-Osanyintolu said “a raging fire from the explosion of a vandalized NNPC pipeline has caused panic among residents within Awori, and Pipeline communities in Abule Egba.
“LASEMA, Lagos fire service is responding and on top of the situation,” he said earlier.
Oke-Osanyintolu, however, confirmed that two adult males and a child were burnt to death, with 11 trucks and seven houses razed.
“Investigation revealed that the inferno was as a result of pipeline vandalism. Hence, two adult males and a child have been lost while eleven trucks laden with 40 feet containers were destroyed while, about seven buildings have so far been razed down by the inferno,” he said.
