In brief
A devastating fire in a high-rise office building in Lagos claimed the lives of at least 10 individuals, while injuring over 25 others. Many occupants were trapped inside the Afriland Towers, leading to desperate attempts to escape by jumping from windows. The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency suggested that poor maintenance and inadequate safety measures contributed to the fire's severity. As investigations are launched, victims’ families and the government seek answers and accountability.
At least ten people have died and 25 others injured after a fire broke out in a high-rise building in Lagos, Nigeria's commercial capital.
Videos on social media on Tuesday showed occupants of the seven-storey Afriland Towers jumping out of the third and fourth floors when the fire started.
The victims were commercial workers who were trapped inside the building, which is home to many companies and organizations in the city.
Most of the survivors suffered burns and fractures while trying to escape, while others faced respiratory distress due to smoke inhalation.
Authorities reported that occupants became disoriented from the rapid spread of smoke and the absence of clear evacuation guidance, leading to many breaking windows to jump and sustaining severe trauma. Witness Chukwuemeka Eze described the terrifying scene: It was scary; some jumped from up there. We got a wooden ladder to assist them.
According to the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (Lasema), the fire, which lasted for hours, began in the basement of the building where electrical equipment was located. They suspect that poor maintenance and inadequate ventilation in the inverter battery area caused overheating and combustion.
The agency noted the absence of mechanical smoke extraction systems which allowed smoke to spread unchecked. Additionally, the public address systems malfunctioned, and inadequate signage worsened the situation. Many sealed windows in the building also made escape difficult, and facility managers inhaled smoke and passed out during the incident.
Lasema managed to extinguish the fire after several hours, but thick black smoke had already filled the building.
Nigeria's President Bola Tinubu called the incident unfortunate and expressed condolences to the families of the victims. The Federal Fire Service has initiated an investigation to ascertain the causes of the incident, focusing on safety systems and compliance with fire safety protocols, with the findings promised to be made public and recommendations implemented.
