Thelma Osatohanmwen
A fire outbreak has engulfed the renowned Mandilas building, a 10-storey structure housing numerous shops and business offices, located on Broad Street in the Lagos Island Local Government Area of Lagos State.
NEWSTODAYNG gathered that, the blaze, which is believed to have started on the first floor, rapidly spread to the fourth floor of the building, causing panic among residents and business owners in the area.
Videos circulating on social media platforms, notably shared by @General_Somto, showcase the severity of the fire, with large plumes of smoke and flames visible from afar. The urgency of the situation was palpable in the voice of an individual in one of the videos, calling for widespread dissemination of the news to hasten the intervention of emergency services.
The Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, under the direction of Margaret Adeseye, confirmed the incident and has been at the forefront of battling the inferno.
According to Adeseye, the cause of the fire is yet to be determined, but efforts are being intensified to control and eventually extinguish the fire. Teams from the Ebute Elefun and Sari Iganmu Fire Stations are currently on the scene, employing all available resources to prevent further escalation of the fire.
Footage from the scene reveals the challenging circumstances faced by the firefighters, with one fire truck seen making its way through the congested market area to reach the heart of the blaze. The efforts of the fire and rescue personnel have been hampered by the building’s structure and the density of the surrounding area, a common challenge in the bustling markets of Lagos.
As of the latest reports, there have been no casualties from the incident, a testament to the swift response and evacuation procedures undertaken by the authorities. The situation remains fluid, with emergency services fully engaged in the firefighting operation.
Investigations into the cause of the fire are ongoing, with authorities keen to establish the origin and prevent future occurrences of such devastating incidents.