News flittered that four yet-to-be-identified persons are currently battling for their lives after fire gutted a six-storey building at the Afriland Tower, which houses a branch of the United Bank for Africa and other companies on Broad Street in the Lagos Island area of Lagos State hours ago.
This is just as another plaza located in the same area, was gutted by fire, which led to a part of the building caving in.
It was gathered that first incident caused panic among occupants and passersby in the busy commercial hub.
Sources revealed that individuals were seen attempting to jump from the storey building, while others were rescued with the aid of ladders by residents and passersby.
Crowds gathered in front of the building also watched in panic as firefighters and volunteers attempted to bring the situation under control.
Confirming the incident in a statement on Tuesday, the Deputy Controller of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Ogabi Olajide, said the emergency call was received at 1:38 p.m., and fire crews from the Ebute Elefun and Sari Iganmu fire stations responded.
“The call was received at 13:38 hours, and fire crews from Ebute Elefun Fire Station and Sari Iganmu Fire Station responded.
“The fire originated in the inverter room located in the basement of the building, while smoke spread across multiple floors and engulfed the structure,” Olajide stated.
According to him, evacuation of occupants was in progress, while firefighting operations had been concluded, dousing the earlier panic before the arrival of the first responders.
Passersby divulged that he rescued some people at the scene.
“I brought out two people with my own hands from the top of the building, but when the firefighters came, we were asked to go out,” he said.
