A yet to be identified man was yesterday burnt to death and eight others injured after fire gutted Providus Bank headquarters on Victoria Island, Lagos.
Another fire incident occurred at Tailor Market behind the ultra-modern Tejuosho Market, Yaba.
The inferno at Providus Bank, caused by generator explosion, was said to have occurred around 10am.
It was gathered that the fuel tank of the diesel generator exploded and caused Automated Gas Oil (AGO) to spill from the generator house to other parts of the property located at Plot 1114, Adeola Odeku Street, by Eletu Ogabi Close, Victoria Island.
Seven of the eight injured persons sustained fire burns while the eighth, a policeman attached to the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) was injured while escaping from his patrol vehicle that caught fire.
An eyewitness, Ahmed Usman, said: “We were inside a plaza when we heard loud sound. We rushed out and saw that the generator exploded.”
Another eyewitness, Biola Arogundade blamed the cause of the fire on the negligence of the workers in the building.
According to him, the workers did not follow appropriate safety measures which resulted in the fire outbreak.
Police spokesman, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, said all seven burns victims were on admission at the hospital and under observation, while the policeman who sustained minor injury had received first aid treatment.
He said the deceased person was burnt beyond recognition, adding that the police patrol vehicle was also badly affected.
Lagos State Fire Service Director, Margret Adeseye said only fatality was recorded.
She said Oba Oniru Fire Station responded to the incident and doused the fire which emanated from an industrial generator that was being repaired before it exploded.
“The generator which was housed within the premises of a commercial bank, also affected an adjoining Toyota Saloon Car belonging to the Rapid Response Squad of the Lagos Command of the Nigeria Police stationed outside the premises.
“Unfortunately, a male adult was recovered severly burnt beyond recognition and handed over to the Police from Bar-Beach Division while the four storey commercial building was saved and the RRS Policemen escaped unhurt.
“Further report will be given as the investigation into the cause of incident is completed,” said Adeseye.
According to Adeseye, the fire which involved the clothing and tailoring materials section of the market in Yaba has being subdued by the Fire-fighters.
“The situation is however under control as damping down in progress which had affected Clothing and Tailoring Materials Market of about two plots of Land. Neither casualty nor victim recorded,” she said.
Eyewitnesses said generator was also the cause of the fire.