Lagos Island Fire: Two Dead as Rescuers Recover Bodies from Great Nigeria Insurance House
Two adult men, yet to be formally identified, have been confirmed dead after their bodies were discovered within the wreckage of the Great Nigeria Insurance House on Lagos Island, days after a massive fire ravaged the iconic high-rise building.
The remains were recovered on Friday during ongoing search and rescue operations at the Marina area, where the multi-storey structure suffered extensive structural damage from the inferno, PulseNets learnt.
PulseNets obtained that the fire reportedly broke out on the fourth floor of the 25-storey building before spreading to the sixth floor and rapidly engulfing several other levels of the tower, as well as adjoining structures in the densely populated commercial district.
During the chaos, parts of the building reportedly collapsed, trapping several traders and occupants beneath the rubble as emergency responders battled to contain the blaze.
PulseNets reported that the fire also spread to nearby properties, including sections of the historic Old Lagos Central Mosque, compounding fears of widespread damage in the area.
Efforts by PulseNets to obtain an official statement from the Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Dr. Femi Oke-Osanyintolu, proved unsuccessful, as multiple enquiries had not been responded to as of the time of filing this report.
However, a senior LASEMA official, who spoke to PulseNets on the condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the operation, confirmed the grim discovery of the two victims during continued rescue efforts.
“Two bodies were recovered today during the search exercise. The first body was discovered at about 11:03 a.m., while the second was recovered around 12:03 p.m.,” the official told PulseNets.
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According to information obtained by PulseNets, search, recovery, and safety operations remain ongoing at the scene as emergency responders intensify efforts to locate any other victims who may still be trapped and to mitigate further risks arising from the weakened structure.
