Toba Owojaiye reporting
Abuja , Nigeria
In a devastating incident on Sunday, a fierce fire engulfed the Mandilas building on Broad Street, Lagos Island, causing millions of naira worth of clothing goods to be destroyed.
The fire, which started around 1 pm, consumed four floors of the 10-storey structure, with distraught traders seen attempting to salvage their merchandise at the scene.
Margaret Adeseye, the Director of Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, revealed that the fire’s origin on the first floor remained undetermined.
Despite efforts by emergency responders, the blaze escalated to the fourth floor before being contained. Fortunately, there were no reported casualties during the incident.
Truth Live News gathered that Governor Babajide Sanwoolu assured residents that an investigation into the cause of the fire was underway.
In a statement, he urged calm while praising the swift response of firefighting teams from Ebute Elefun and Sari Iganmu Fire Stations.
This unfortunate event follows a recent tragedy at the National Arts Theatre in Iganmu, Lagos State, where a late-night fire, triggered by a gas explosion, claimed the lives of four cows, three goats, and an office building belonging to the National Council of Arts and Culture on December 30.
The Head of Public Education Unit at the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Amodu Shakiru, disclosed these details, emphasizing the destructive consequences of the fire at the National Arts Theatre.
In both incidents, the extent of the losses underscores the urgent need for thorough investigations into fire safety measures and preventive measures in public and commercial spaces. As the affected communities grapple with the aftermath, the resilience of emergency response teams is acknowledged, yet the occurrences highlight the importance of proactive measures to mitigate such incidents in the future.