62 shops affected in Lagos market fire

No fewer than 14 shops were completely destroyed in a fire at Ijesa Market in Surulere Lagos.

The Saturday night fire also partially burnt 48 shops and destroyed adjoining residential house with 24 rooms.

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The fire incident which started around 5pm on Saturday raged for over four hours, with 62 traders and about 28 households affected it was learnt. Though no life was lost and injury sustained, emergency authorities confirmed that the fire started from a room converted to shop.

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the state Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Federal and State fire services were able to jointly put out the fire.

NEMA Coordinator for Lagos Territorial Office, Ibrahim Farinloye, said the fire started through the gas cylinder being used to cook.

He said that the responders faced challenges of lack of water supply and that five fire tankers from federal, state and LRU had to go some Kilometres away from the scene to source water.

Also, the Ag. Head, Lagos Fire and Rescue Service, Mrs. Margaret Adeseye, said investigations are ongoing to establish the cause of the fire.

She urged Lagosians to remain cautious with the use of electrical gadgets and ensure qualified electrical engineers are engaged to fix faults to forestall such occurrences in future.