Two men have been found dead following a devastating fire at the Great Nigeria Insurance House Plaza in Balogun Market, Lagos Island, authorities confirmed on Thursday.
According to The PUNCH, the fire, which began on the fourth floor of the 25-storey building, quickly spread to the sixth floor and engulfed adjoining structures. A detached section of the plaza also collapsed, trapping traders inside.
An official of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the bodies were recovered during ongoing rescue operations.
“We recovered two bodies today. The first was recovered at about 11:03 a.m., while the second was found around 12:03 p.m.,” the official stated.
While the identities of the deceased are yet to be officially confirmed, a trader, Zacchaeus Afolayan, said one of the victims was a market assistant who had been helping traders move their goods when the building collapsed.
“One of them was a young man assisting traders. He was helping move goods out when the structure gave way,” Afolayan said.
Fears remain that more traders may still be trapped under the rubble, including a China-based clothier named Obum. Afolayan explained that Obum had been evacuating his merchandise when the weakened section collapsed.
“Obum called me from under the rubble around 2 a.m., saying he was trapped but still alive. He begged that we rescue him, saying no one would care for his children if he died,” Afolayan said.
Another trader, who identified himself as Charles, reported that two additional traders were still believed to be trapped.
“Two people have contacted their relatives from under the debris. One of them just had his family arrive from Onitsha after he called for help,” he said.
Fire incidents have become a recurring problem in Lagos Island markets, causing significant financial losses and endangering lives annually. Rescue operations are ongoing as authorities continue to search for more survivors.
