Key Points

• Nine people rescued in deadly Lagos high-rise fire incident.

• Five victims revived after inhaling smoke during Lagos building fire.

• Safety concerns intensify following frequent Lagos high-rise fire emergencies.

State officials say that on Monday, a fire broke out in a high-rise building in Lagos, Nigeria’s commercial center. Nine people were saved and five were brought back to life.

The fire, which spread to part of the multi-story tower on Broad Street in Lagos Island, sent thick smoke into the air and made people in the area panic and run away. The Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service arrived within minutes, with help from the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), the Federal Fire Service, and the Lagos State Ambulance Service (LASAMBUS). Firefighters fought the fire for several hours before they were able to get it under control.

Nine people saved from a fire in a high-rise in Lagos

According to a report by the Punch news, Adeseye Margaret, the head of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, said that nine people were successfully rescued from the building. She said that five victims had passed out from breathing in too much smoke, but paramedics from LASAMBUS were able to bring them back to life at the scene. “Our quick action saved lives today. Adeseye said, “All of the rescued victims are getting treatment at nearby hospitals.”

Dr. Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, LASEMA’s Permanent Secretary, said that investigations were still going on but that an electrical problem might have started the fire. He told people to stay alert and asked for regular safety checks on buildings.

Emergency response teams moved quickly

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu praised emergency workers for their quick response and said that the coordinated effort showed that Lagos had gotten better at handling disasters. Sanwo-Olu said in a statement, “This could have been much worse if our firefighters and first responders hadn’t been brave.”

As security forces moved cars away from the scene, traffic around Lagos Island came to a standstill. Hundreds of people crowded around the blocked-off building, and some filmed the rescue efforts as police patrol vans, fire trucks, and ambulances lined the streets.

The fire in a Lagos high-rise raises safety concerns

The incident has brought up the issue of Lagos’s frequent fires again. The city’s high population density and old infrastructure make it a constant risk. Last year, a fire at the Mandilas Building on Broad Street cost businesses millions of naira.

Urban planners, like Professor Olumide Ayeni from the University of Lagos, said that not following building codes is still a big problem. “Many buildings in Lagos still don’t have working fire alarms, extinguishers, or emergency exits.” Ayeni said, “We will keep seeing tragedies like this until stricter enforcement is put in place.”

Officials promised to look into the fire that happened on Monday, and state officials promised to make inspections and enforcement stricter.