The death toll from the devastating fire that razed the Great Nigeria Building in the Balogun Market area of Lagos Island has risen to five, following the recovery of two additional bodies from the rubble on Sunday.
This development came as another fire outbreak occurred on Monday evening at Arena Market in the Bolade area of Oshodi, Lagos State, raising fresh concerns about fire safety in major markets across the state.
The Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service confirmed that it received a distress call at about 5:50 pm on Monday, prompting the immediate deployment of firefighting teams to Arena Market. Fire crews reportedly arrived at the scene within five minutes.
According to the service, the fire affected five 40-foot container shops arranged in two rows, bringing the total number of damaged shops to ten. The affected section of the market was mainly used for storing and selling clothing materials packed in bales.
Firefighters from Bolade, Ilupeju, Ikeja and Alausa stations worked together to contain the inferno, successfully preventing it from spreading to other parts of the market. Authorities confirmed that the situation was brought under control and posed no further risk.
Meanwhile, details have continued to emerge from the earlier fire incident at the Great Nigeria Building on Lagos Island. The fire reportedly started on the fourth floor of the 25-storey structure, spread to the sixth floor, and eventually engulfed most of the building and nearby structures.
During the blaze, a detached section of the building, estimated to be about seven floors, collapsed, trapping traders, market assistants and customers beneath the rubble.
Although seven people were rescued shortly after the collapse, three bodies were recovered on Friday. Emergency responders later recovered two more bodies on Sunday during ongoing search and rescue operations, bringing the total number of confirmed deaths to five.
Emergency officials said the bodies were badly burnt and, in some cases, mangled, making identification difficult. They added that goods buried under the debris continued to fuel smouldering fires beneath the rubble, although the situation was no longer considered an active emergency.
Since Sunday, anxious relatives and friends have continued to visit the scene in search of loved ones who were last seen at the market on the day of the incident. Some visitors believe that customers who came to shop were also caught in the collapse.
Emergency responders have maintained excavation and recovery efforts amid growing tension, as several people are still believed to be trapped under the rubble. Families have provided names and photographs of missing relatives in hopes of getting answers.
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Those identified so far include Elo Chukwu, Omeigbo Chuwuebuka, Omeigbo Chukwudubem, Kayode Omoniyi, Ikechukwudi Asobi, Murphy Aborinwa, Onyeka Obinwa, Mercy Ukamaka, Taofeeq Opera, a trader known as Chiding, and two of his assistants. Several other market workers remain unaccounted for.
Reacting to the incident, the Shitta-Bey family of Lagos, owners of the Great Nigeria Building, expressed deep sorrow over the tragedy. The family described the fire as heartbreaking and extended condolences to all affected families.
In a statement, the family assured the public that it is working closely with relevant authorities to support victims and their relatives. It also stated that the building was properly insured and pledged to restore the structure, including the mosque within the premises, while ensuring the safety of all occupants.
The family added that further updates would be shared as investigations and recovery efforts continue.
