Lagos explosion: Boarding students trapped in dormitory

March 15

13:24 2020

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More than 20 students of Bethlehem Girls High School are believed to be trapped in their dormitory following an explosion which rocked Abule Ado area of Lagos on Sunday morning.

A resident said some of the girls have been taken to the hospital while officials are still trying to get others out.

“It’s been difficult getting the students and teachers out,” the resident said.

Another resident who made a video from the scene said the area has just one exit, and people are still trapped in the affected buildings.

“Lives have been lost, properties including houses and cars. When we heard the explosion this morning, it was as if aeroplane fell on our building,” he said.

Valentine Buraimoh, chairman of Amuwo Odofin local government area (LGA), also said about three schools were affected.

“Churches were also affected. We have been able to rescue some but more are still trapped in the buildings,” he said.

“We have called LASEMA and they are on their way, but our men are still on ground trying to rescue as many as they can.”

Buraimoh, however, said the explosion was not caused by pipeline vandals, as the area is being monitored by soldiers stationed 30 metres away.

“What we know is that there is a technical fault around the pipeline which led to the explosion,” he said.

“It is not human. The soldiers didn’t see any vandal come close to the area. And some of the eyewitnesses that were in the area before the explosion happened said they observe that there was a gas leakage before the whole place went on fire.”