Routine gas cylinder offloading triggers explosion in Ajegunle

A gas explosion occurred in Ajegunle, Olodi Apapa, on Tuesday, caused by the routine offloading of gas cylinders into a shop, which sparked the explosion.

The Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso, made this known via a post on his official X (formerly Twitter) handle on Tuesday.

The explosion caused a fire, which affected three shops and four tricycles, injuring ten persons; however, they are currently hospitalized.

The post further noted that emergency workers had arrived at the scene to extinguish the fire and rescue the injured.

Here’s what the post read:

• “A routine offloading of gas cylinders into a shop has sparked an explosion in Ajegunle, Olodi Apapa, Lagos.
• “The explosion caused a fire, which affected three shops and four tricycles.
• “Ten people, who got injured in the incident, have been hospitalized.
• “Emergency workers were at the scene to put out the fire and rescue the injured.”

What you should know

Earlier this year, particularly in February, a similar fire explosion caused by the offloading of gas cylinders into a shop occurred in Lagos.

The incident took place at Agbada Road, Toyin Bus Stop, Iju Ishaga, in the late hours of February 14, 2024, during the offloading of six 75-50(kg) gas cylinders from a stationary mini truck to a gas shop.

The Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, in their statement announcing the incident, stated that an accidental explosion, caused by a compromised head cap of one cylinder, ignited the fire.

The fire explosion completely razed down 18 nearby shops; however, no deaths or injuries were recorded.

Furthermore, the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service effectively controlled the fire explosion, mitigating its spread and safeguarding the environment and nearby properties, including a Kerosene Petroleum Filling Station.