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Nigeria: Fireworks blaze kills at least one Nigeria: Lagos Island fireworks blaze kills at least one
(about 1 hour later)
An explosion in a warehouse has sparked a major fire and killed at least one person in Lagos, Nigeria's largest city and commercial capital.An explosion in a warehouse has sparked a major fire and killed at least one person in Lagos, Nigeria's largest city and commercial capital.
Officials said a building storing fireworks in the largest market area of Lagos Island exploded, and the ensuing blaze spread to up to nine buildings.Officials said a building storing fireworks in the largest market area of Lagos Island exploded, and the ensuing blaze spread to up to nine buildings.
The blast reportedly shook windows of homes miles away and a thick cloud of smoke could be seen over the city. The blast reportedly shook windows in homes miles away and a thick cloud of smoke could be seen over the city.
More than 30 people have been injured.More than 30 people have been injured.
A cloud of smoke billowed from the scene of the explosion, accompanied by the sparks of fireworks.A cloud of smoke billowed from the scene of the explosion, accompanied by the sparks of fireworks.
The sound of popping and crackling carried on as the fire raged on in this densely populated part of Lagos full of closely packed buildings in narrow streets. The sound of popping and crackling carried on as the fire raged on in this densely populated part of Lagos, full of closely packed buildings in narrow streets.
Residents of the area told me they thought it was a bomb at first when blast shook buildings around Jankara Market, the largest in Lagos. Residents of the area told me they thought it was a bomb at first when a blast shook buildings around Jankara Market, the largest in Lagos.
A few people showed me shrapnel wounds they got even though they were a fair distance from the explosion. A few people showed me shrapnel wounds they suffered even though they were a fair distance from the explosion.
There was little the people could do but watch, with some trying to get photographs of the incident on their mobile phones. There was little that people could do but watch, with some trying to get photographs of the incident on their mobile phones.
Emergency workers say they had problems getting past the huge crowds of onlookers, similar to a complaint they raised in June when a plane crashed into a residential area in another part of Lagos.Emergency workers say they had problems getting past the huge crowds of onlookers, similar to a complaint they raised in June when a plane crashed into a residential area in another part of Lagos.
An official from the National Emergency Management Agency told the AFP news agency that a charred body had been pulled out of the building where the fireworks detonated. An official from the National Emergency Management Agency (Nema) told AFP news agency that a charred body had been pulled out of the building where the fireworks detonated.
The force of the initial blast was such that some residents reportedly mistook it for a bomb or a falling plane.
Windows in nearby buildings were shattered and a neighbouring school was badly damaged.
Desperate search
Thousands of people in the area gathered to watch, as the fire destroyed neighbouring buildings.Thousands of people in the area gathered to watch, as the fire destroyed neighbouring buildings.
Some residents jumped out of windows in panic as fireworks exploded long after the initial blaze, AFP also reported. Some were desperately searching the crowd for information on family members while the fire was burning and sporadic fireworks explosions could still be heard.
The BBC's Tomi Oladipo, who is at the scene, says he saw people with shrapnel wounds some distance from the fire and that it is quite likely anyone closer would have been worse affected. "Everything has burned now. I don't see my brother now or his son - I've not seen anybody now. They might have collapsed inside there, nobody can enter there," said one man.
The Nigerian Red Cross said it had treated at least 30 people, AFP reported. Some residents jumped out of windows in panic as fireworks exploded long after the initial blaze, according to a statement from Nema quoted by AFP.
Firefighters took about an hour to reach the scene, according to our correspondent, because of the huge crowds. The BBC's Tomi Oladipo described seeing other people who had sustained shrapnel wounds some distance from the fire.
Some residents grabbed hoses from fire engines and tried to fight the blaze themselves, but the Associated Press reports that the engines quickly ran out of water. Some were hurt as they tried to put out the flames and were taken to hospital for treatment.
Police and security officials recovered mortar-like fireworks and many empty firework shells from the scene, the agency said. Firefighters took about an hour to reach the scene, partly because of the huge crowds, our correspondent says.
Our correspondent says that for years there have been calls for the ban of fireworks – which are widely used during the end-of-year holidays in Nigeria – but they have never been enforced. Residents grabbed hoses from fire engines in attempt to fight the blaze, but the water quickly ran out, Associated Press reports.
A government official told Reuters news agency that the firefighting operation was hampered by the risk of new explosions from so many fireworks.
"It's very dangerous for the firemen to go in, because the government don't want any of these men to be injured."
Police and security officials reportedly recovered mortar-like fireworks and empty firework shells from the scene.
Our correspondent says that for years there have been calls for the ban of fireworks – which are widely used during the Christmas and new year holidays in Nigeria – but they have never been enforced.
Are you in Lagos? Did you witness the fire? Please share your comments and experiences.Are you in Lagos? Did you witness the fire? Please share your comments and experiences.
Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here.Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here.
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