Fear and uncertainty gripped Balogun Market on Wednesday as a raging fire tore through a high-rise commercial plaza, popularly known as Great Nigeria Insurance House, leaving an undisclosed number of traders feared trapped.
The inferno, which reportedly broke out late on Wednesday afternoon, gutted several floors of the building, a major hub for the sale of clothing, shoes and other fashion accessories in Lagos Island’s bustling commercial district.
Eyewitnesses said the fire started around 4.40pm on the upper floors of the plaza and quickly intensified, sending thick plumes of black smoke into the sky and triggering panic among traders and shoppers.
A trader at the scene, who identified himself simply as Sola, said the situation degenerated rapidly as smoke filled the building, making escape difficult for those on higher floors.
“At first, it was just smoke and we thought it was under control. Suddenly, the fire became very serious. There was a stampede, and some people, especially those on the upper floors, could not come out,” he said.
Videos from the scene showed emergency vehicles struggling through the crowded market corridors as firefighters battled to contain the blaze.
Confirming the incident, the Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Dr Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, said preliminary investigations indicated that the fire started on the fourth floor and spread upwards within the 22-storey building.
“Upon the arrival of the Shark Response Team, the building was found engulfed in fire. The fire started from one of the apartments on the fourth floor and escalated rapidly to the sixth floor,” he said, adding that the number of casualties could not immediately be confirmed as rescue and firefighting operations were ongoing.
Similarly, the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service said efforts were still underway to fully extinguish the fire. Its Controller-General, Margaret Adeseye, noted that no casualties had been officially recorded as of the time of reporting.
“The fire is affecting up to the fifth floor of the building. It originated on the fifth floor and spread downwards. The structure is mainly used as warehouses for clothing materials, with some corporate offices and shops,” she said.
Emergency responders remained at the scene late into the evening, battling the flames and searching the affected floors, as anxious relatives and traders waited for clarity on the fate of those feared trapped.
Authorities said investigations into the cause of the fire would commence after the incident is brought under control.
