Earlier today, Wednesday the 29th, several traders lost their goods yet again to another fire outbreak at the popular Balogun market in Lagos, Nigeria. This same market suffered a similar outbreak in November 2019 and just a few days ago, the Amu Timber market in Mushin also suffered a fire outbreak.
The fire is said to have started at Anambra Plaza at Martins Street near Leventis Bus Stop, Lagos Island around 9.00 am and lasted till late in the evening as traders were still seen trying to salvage what was left of their goods.
A witness allegedly reported that the inferno spread to adjoining buildings and ended up affecting about seven structures but at the time of this report, the cause of the fire was still quite undecided. It was reported that the Director-General of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Femi Oke-Osanyintolu did say that the fire outbreak was caused by fuel stored inappropriately in one of the stores.
However, as reported also, one of the Market’s leaders who goes by the name Mr Chibike Okeke said nobody could currently ascertain the cause of the inferno, adding that the LASEMA official’s claim was only mere speculation.
Reports reaching us revealed that the swift response of the emergency team, as well as the cooperation of other responders, helped prevent the fire from causing more damage than it already had. One of the buildings was also reported to have collapsed causing minor injuries member of Nigeria Red Cross, a firefighter and a trader, but no lives were reported lost.
More to come as the story unwinds…
