A gas explosion in the Ajegunle-Apapa area of Lagos State left nine individuals injured, including a pregnant woman, late Tuesday.

The explosion, attributed to a gas leakage igniting a high-tension cable, sparked a fire outbreak in the vicinity known for its gas cylinder trading activities.

Margaret Adeseye, Director of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service (LSFRS), reported that the injured victims received immediate medical attention from the Lagos State Ambulance Service.

“Tragically, nine individuals, including a pregnant woman and several children and adults, suffered varying degrees of burn injuries,” the Director of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Margaret Adeseye, said late Tuesday.

“They received immediate medical attention from the Lagos State Ambulance Service and are currently undergoing further treatment at the Ajeromi General Hospital and Gbagada Burnt & Trauma Centre.”

The aftermath of the explosion resulted in damage to properties, including four commercial tricycles, six lock-up shops, and a section of a residential bungalow.

However, firefighters managed to salvage nearby structures, including a critical fuel service station, thereby mitigating further losses.

This incident follows a similar occurrence in neighbouring Ogun State a few days prior. In that incident, a tanker laden with gas crashed at the popular Itaoshin market in Abeokuta, resulting in one fatality and injuries to two others.

Florence Okpe, spokesperson of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), confirmed the details of the crash, emphasizing the immediate response from the fire service and the cordoning off of the scene to prevent secondary accidents.

“The crash occurred at about 1610 hrs involving a tanker laden with gas. The number of people involved was six and all male adults. Two got injured and unfortunately, one person died which is the motor boy who was trapped,” the spokesperson of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Florence Okpe said.

“The fire service was contacted immediately and the scene was cordoned off to avoid a secondary crash.”

In response to the tragedy, Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State visited the explosion site and pledged compensation for those affected by the incident in the South-West state.