Emergency crews were still battling through rubbles two days after a devastating fire tore through Emab Plaza, a four-storey commercial building located behind the iconic Mandilas Building on Lagos Island.
The inferno, which broke out late Tuesday night after similar incident At Afriland Towers in Lagos, spread rapidly to three neighbouring buildings, leaving widespread destruction in its wake and sparking renewed concerns about recurring fire incidents in Lagos Island’s busy commercial district.
LEADERSHIP reports that the blaze was first reported around 9:23pm on Tuesday, starting on the fourth floor of Emab Plaza before advancing to adjoining structures. Thick smoke was seen pouring from the upper floors as eyewitnesses raised alarms.
Responding swiftly, the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service dispatched emergency teams from its Ebute Elefun and Oniru stations.
By 10 p.m., Deputy Controller-General Olajide Ogabi confirmed that firefighting and rescue operations were still underway.
“The Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service swiftly responded to a fire outbreak at a four-storey building, with the blaze reported from the fourth floor of Emab Plaza, located behind Mandilas, Taiwo Street, Lagos Island,” Ogabi said.
“The incident was reported at 19:23 hours, prompting immediate dispatch of fire crews from the Ebute Elefun and Oniru Fire Stations. The cause of the fire is yet to be determined.”
Though firefighters were able to contain the worst of the blaze, the flames had already spread to portions of adjoining buildings, heightening fears of greater economic loss in the area.
As of Thursday afternoon, emergency crews were still battling through debris, with assessments ongoing to determine the scale of damage. No official casualty figures have been released.
LEADERSHIP reports that the Emab Plaza fire followed closely after another devastating blaze at Afriland Towers on Broad Street, Lagos Island on the same day. That incident claimed lives and destroyed offices, raising urgent questions about fire safety compliance in the city’s densely populated business hubs.
The latest tragedy came barely months after a similar fire gutted the Mandilas Market in January, destroying over 450 shops, 30 offices, two hotels, and five restaurants, displacing thousands of traders and causing losses running into billions of naira. The incident was attributed to welding activities on the lower floors of the building.
