103-Year-Old Woman Dies In Lagos Building Fire

A 103-year-old woman has died after fire gutted a residential building at No. 8 Bola Street, off Kadara Street, Oyingbo area of Lagos State.

It was gathered that the fire started around pass 11:00 a.m on Friday, prompting the activation of the state’s emergency response plan from its Onipanu Base.

According to the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) in a preliminary incident report signed by its Permanent Secretary, Dr. Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, the agency’s Response Team arrived at the scene at about 12:13 p.m. and discovered that a bungalow with two shops attached had been completely engulfed by fire.

Preliminary information indicated that the fire started from one of the rooms in the building before spreading to other sections.

However, the exact cause of the incident had yet to be ascertained as of the time the report was filed.

LASEMA said its officials immediately carried out a risk assessment of the scene and cordoned off the affected area to prevent further damage to adjoining buildings.

Safety and precautionary measures were also implemented, while joint firefighting efforts by LASEMA, the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service and other responders successfully brought the fire under control.

The agency confirmed that the inferno affected eight units of room-and-parlour apartments, one self-contained mini-flat, six shops and household properties worth a significant amount.

Tragically, one life was lost in the incident. The victim, a 103-year-old woman whose name was withheld, was confirmed dead at the scene.

Her remains were later recovered and handed over to her family for necessary action.

“The fire reportedly started from a room before spreading to other rooms within the building. However, cause of the fire was yet-to-be ascertained as at the time of writing this report,” the report read.

“Unortunately, one life, a 103 year old centurion (name withheld), lost her life to the incident.”

LASEMA noted that the fire had been completely extinguished, with dampening down concluded, while rescue and recovery operations had also been formally brought to a close.

Responders at the scene included the LASEMA Response Team from Onipanu Base, the LASEMA Fire Unit, the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, the Nigeria Police Force, the Lagos Neighbourhood Safety Corps, and the Vice Chairman of Lagos Mainland Local Government Area, Adewale Momo.

THE WHISTLER reports that 25 storey Great Nigeria Insurance (GNI) building was engulfed by fire on December 24, destroying goods worth millions.

As of January 2, eight people were confirmed dead in the fire incident, while at least 13 were recovered alive.