At least ten people have died and 25 others injured after a fire broke out in a high-rise building in Lagos, Nigeria's commercial capital.
Videos on social media on Tuesday showed occupants of the seven-storey Afriland Towers jumping out of the third and fourth floors when the fire started.
The victims were commercial workers who were trapped inside the building, which hosts most commercial companies and organisations in the city.
Most of the survivors suffered burns and fracture injuries while trying to escape, while others had respiratory distress from smoke inhalation.
Authorities reported that rapid smoke spread and lack of clear evacuation guidance led to disorientation among the occupants, compelling many to jump from windows, resulting in severe trauma.
Chukwuemeka Eze, a trader who witnessed the incident, described the scene as terrifying, stating, It was scary, some jumped from up there; many people inside were so scared to jump down, we got a wooden ladder to assist them.
The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (Lasema) stated the fire lasted for hours and originated in the basement, where electrical equipment was installed. They suspect poor maintenance and inadequate ventilation in the inverter battery area led to overheating and combustion.
The agency also highlighted the absence of essential safety systems, such as mechanical smoke extraction and functioning public address systems, which exacerbated the situation. Many occupants were left confused due to inadequate signage and sealed windows, and building managers were found to be unconscious due to smoke inhalation.
Lasema confirmed that the fire was extinguished after several hours, but the thick smoke had already spread throughout the building.
Nigeria's President Bola Tinubu expressed his condolences to the families of the deceased, labeling the incident as unfortunate.
The Federal Fire Service has initiated an investigation into the incident's causes, focusing on safety systems, maintenance protocols, and adherence to fire safety regulations. The results will be publicly disclosed, with all necessary recommendations to be implemented.
